July 15, 2026, 6:24 p.m. ET

Every great defense needs an identity. For years, the Baltimore Ravens built theirs around legendary linebackers whose leadership matched their production. Ray Lewis and Ed Reed set the standard. Terrell Suggs and C.J. Mosley carried the torch for a time. Now, Roquan Smith has become the latest centerpiece of a franchise that has long valued excellence from its defense.

Even after a season in which Baltimore’s defense struggled to consistently meet its lofty expectations, Smith’s reputation never wavered. That became evident in ESPN’s recent survey of NFL executives, coaches, and scouts. Smith finished second among the league’s off-ball linebackers, trailing only Fred Warner while once again cementing his place among football’s elite defenders.

League evaluators praised many of the same qualities that have defined Smith throughout his career. One unnamed coordinator put it this way.

“(He) still has the instincts, physicality, and playmaking that’s a class ahead of the others outside of Fred,”

Another AFC offensive coach offered an equally telling assessment.

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“He knows what’s coming before the play and plays with reckless abandonment.”

One evaluator summed it up even more bluntly.

“He’s (expletive) nasty coming downhill. He sees it fast, good blitzer, good eyes, cuts the ball off in the run game.”

Those comments help explain why Smith remains one of the NFL’s most respected defensive leaders. He’s one of only two players to record at least 130 tackles in each of the past six seasons, combining elite instincts with relentless effort and physicality every Sunday.

Roquan Smith continues setting the standard

Baltimore’s defense still revolves around No. 0. The Ravens enter 2026 with plenty of talent surrounding Smith. Kyle Hamilton remains one of football’s most versatile defensive backs. Trey Hendrickson gives Baltimore another proven pass rusher, while Nnamdi Madubuike, Travis Jones and an improving defensive front should help strengthen the trenches.

Even with those additions, however, Smith remains the heartbeat of the defense. His production tells only part of the story. Long before the ball is snapped, Smith is identifying formations, communicating adjustments, and putting teammates in position to succeed. That leadership has become just as valuable as the tackles he piles up each season.

Rankings will always spark debate, but this one confirms what Ravens fans have believed since Smith arrived in Baltimore. The defense may continue evolving around him, but one thing hasn’t changed. Roquan Smith remains one of the NFL’s elite linebackers, and those inside the league continue recognizing exactly why.