The saying "heavy is the head that wears the crown" is a metaphorical expression, and no player on the Ravens roster is under more immense pressure than linebacker Roquan Smith. On offense, quarterback Lamar Jackson and running back Derrick Henry are expected to lead a powerful and explosive unit. On defense, Kyle Hamilton is A Swiss army knife, but Roquan Smith is the engine that powers the ship.
Baltimore has signature stars on defense, and the NFL just named the All-Pro linebacker No. 40 on the Top 100 players list for 2025.
Agent 0 at 40 🔥 pic.twitter.com/fJdgXV3b2y
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) August 11, 2025
NFL Top 100 Players of 2025:@Ravens LB Roquan Smith lands at No. 40! @NFLFilmspic.twitter.com/6f9QJSea3k
— NFL (@NFL) August 11, 2025
Last season, Smith was voted to his third straight Pro Bowl after he played in 16 regular-season games, logging 154 tackles (81 solo), including 1.5 sacks, four pass defenses (including one interception), one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery.
He finished the 2024 season with the fifth-most tackles in the NFL behind Zaire Franklin (173), Budda Baker (164), Robert Spillane (158), and Jamien Sherwood (158).
During the playoffs, Smith played every defensive snap, logging 13 tackles (six solo) over that span. The 2018 first-round pick has been among the league leaders in tackles since being traded by the Bears to Baltimore in October 2022.
This article originally appeared on Ravens Wire: Roquan Smith is ranked No. 40 in the NFL's Top 100 Players of 2025
