The Baltimore Ravens and linebacker Roquan Smith have agreed to a five-year, $100 million contract extension, including $60 million guaranteed.
The extension makes Smith the highest paid linebacker in NFL history from a salary basis, with an average salary of $20 million. The contracts breaks the previous highest-paid linebacker record of Colts linebacker Shaquille Leonard, who had an average salary of $19.7 million.
Since being traded by the Chicago Bears earlier this season, Smith’s nine games with Baltimore have resulted in 86 total tackles, with seven tackles-for-loss and two sacks, while also having three pass deflections and an interception.
The Ravens will have an interesting upcoming off-season with former MVP quarterback Lamar Jackson set to be a free agent, with many thinking the Ravens will use a franchise tag on Jackson.
Jackson has been hurt the last five games with a knee injury and is questionable to play for the Ravens in the AFC Wild Card round of the playoffs.
The Ravens are currently the No. 6-seed in the playoffs and will take on the No. 3-seed Cincinnati Bengals on the road on Sunday, January 15th, with a 8:15 p.m. kick-off time.