Ravens defense earns elite praise from one of its best players

USA Today

4 days ago

The Baltimore Ravens defense earns an elite stamp from one of its own.
Some lead by example. Some are more vocal. Rare treasures blend both qualities. Baltimore Ravens fans are spoiled in the latter regard. Ray Lewis, Ed Reed, and Terrell Suggs each gave this city and organization a decade-plus of blood, sweat, and tears.
They worked together for ten years. Wouldn't you know it? Though the NFL is, more often than not, largely obsessed with offense, for much of the Ravens' history, it's the guys on defense who are the faces of this franchise.
Don't get us wrong. This is Lamar Jackson's team now. There is hope he plays for as long as his body will let him, but at M&T Bank Stadium, no one has lost their appreciation for a dominant defense.
Mike Macdonald began building something special before leaving to lead the Seattle Seahawks. His replacement, Zach Orr, took over. Things got off to a rougher start than desired, but his unit improved all season until the time ran out in Baltimore's most recent AFC Divisional Round game.
Now, in his second season, more pieces have been added to Orr's unit, and excitement is building about how good his team can be. Fans and the media aren't just expressing that excitement. It has sent shockwaves through the locker room where one of Baltimore's best players has an announcement for the rest of the NFL.
Roquan Smith offers elite praise for the Ravens' defense
A Ravens defense that featured five of Baltimore's 11 Pro Bowlers returns every single one of them during the 2025-26 NFL season. Three of those defenders were also named as All-Pros, including a first-team selection, Roquan Smith. He recently offered his teammates some praise.
"This is probably the most talented defense that I've been on."
Short, simple, and to the point... Those were the words of one of the Ravens' best defenders as he spoke with media members after the first practice of training camp.
His teammate, fellow First-Team All-Pro and Pro Bowler Marlon Humphrey, intends to keep using Baltimore's earlier-than-desired playoff exits as fuel. Their defensive coordinator, Coach Orr, recently offered a similar theory.
"We want to be the most feared unit in the league, and it's time for us to get back to people being scared of playing us, and that's what we want to feel when we're out there. Obviously, (Marlon Humphrey) is out there. We trust him. He feels that way. I feel that way, too, so that's one of our goals this year, to be the most dominant, feared defense in the National Football League. So, let's go do it. It is not just going to happen by us talking about it, we've got to come out here and put the work in, and then when Sunday or gameday comes, we've got to go do it."
The message is loud and clear, Coach. And, you're right! Go out and get it done.