Unsung Hero Jimmy Smith: The Overlooked Cornerstone of Ravens’ Defense
Former Ravens CB might be the most overlooked star of the past decade. It’s time NFL fans give Jimmy Smith his flowers.
When it comes to the most underrated Baltimore Ravens of all time, Jimmy Smith might top the list for many fans. From the moment Smith stepped onto the field as a rookie in 2011, he became a key difference-maker and one of the top corners in the league. He was a mainstay on a great run of Ravens defenses since stepping into a starting role. However, his play was seemingly never recognized, as he finished his career with zero Pro Bowl selections.
The Rise of a Titan
It took some time for Smith to land a consistent starting role in Baltimore after being selected 27th overall in the 2011 NFL Draft. However, that didn’t stop him from making his name known around the league in the 2012 playoffs, where he came up with big-time plays. This included excellent punt coverage on Denver Broncos returner Trindon Holliday—who had already taken both a kick and a punt return for touchdowns earlier in the game—in overtime of the divisional round, as well as two crucial goal-line stops against the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl XLVII, which helped seal the Ravens’ second Super Bowl win.
That was just the start for Smith. From that point on, he became the team’s top cornerback, consistently locking down receivers and holding his own against AFC North rivals like Antonio Brown and A.J. Green, along with New England Patriots foe Julian Edelman.
A Cornerstone in the Shadows
Smith truly entered the prime of his career in 2014, playing eight seasons in the stretch shown on this graphic. In the top-right quadrant, the area highlighting the best corners in man coverage, all-time greats like Richard Sherman, Darrelle Revis, and Aqib Talib stand out. Sitting among them is Smith, who, along with L’Jarius Sneed, amassed zero individual accolades. During this stretch, the 11-year veteran allowed less than one yard per snap in man coverage, while holding opposing quarterbacks to a passer rating just over 75.
In 2017, Smith had the best season of his career, earning an 81.9 grade from PFF. Even more impressive was his 49.2 passer rating allowed throughout the season. That campaign likely would have earned him his first Pro Bowl nod; however, he tore his left Achilles in a Week 13 game against the Detroit Lions, ending his stellar season.
A Legacy of Resilience and Leadership
While injuries were, unfortunately, a theme throughout his career—playing a full 16-game slate just twice—his perseverance through major injuries like the Achilles tear and a Lisfranc fracture in 2014 set an example. He quickly became a leader in the locker room. Time and time again, he’d return from injury, and while they eventually added up and led to his retirement, Smith exemplified the Raven way and helped leave the team in a good position by the time he hung up the cleats.