Roquan Smith Comes Full Circle

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Wesley Dixon | Last updated Sep 20, 2026 12:32 AM ET

When the Baltimore Ravens acquired Roquan Smith from the Chicago Bears in 2022, he was thrown into the fire a week later against the New Orleans Saints. He recorded five tackles and helped lead the Ravens to a 27-13 victory.

Four years later, Smith is firmly established as one of the centerpieces of Baltimore’s defense. He started the 2026 season strongly, recording 11 tackles and an interception in the Ravens’ 41-23 victory over the Indianapolis Colts. Jesse Minter went on to praise Smith’s interception after the game.

“We had a safety kind of driving it from top down, but ‘Ro’ [Roquan Smith] was in a good position on the underneath route. He sees the ball thrown, [and] he jumps up and makes a great play.”

From Newcomer to Defensive Leader

Aug 22, 2026; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Baltimore Ravens wide receiver LaJohntay Wester (10) celebrates after scoring a touchdown against the Minnesota Vikings during the second half at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-Imagn Images

Since arriving in Baltimore in 2022, Smith has made four Pro Bowls and become a fixture in the middle of the Ravens’ defense. Baltimore dealt with a litany of injuries during a disappointing 2025 season, but Smith remained productive, recording 130 tackles while players such as Marlon Humphrey, Nate Wiggins and Nnamdi Madubuike missed significant time.

Now, after a strong Week 1 performance, Smith and the Ravens will face a Saints team that has undergone plenty of change of its own. When Smith first faced New Orleans in 2022, the franchise was in its first season after Sean Payton’s departure, with Andy Dalton at quarterback and players such as Alvin Kamara and rookie Chris Olave helping lead the offense. Four years later, the Saints are now led by second-year quarterback Tyler Shough and enter Baltimore looking for their first win after a 31-30 overtime loss to the Detroit Lions.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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