Ray Lewis, Ed Reed and Terrell Suggs are three of the best defensive players to ever wear a Baltimore Ravens uniform. Each left a lasting impact on the organization and every linebacker, safety and pass rusher drafted is compared to those greats.
Those positions garner fame because they account for numbers on a stat sheet. Lewis was a tackling machine. Reed revolutionized the safety position. Suggs created havoc on the edges. They got all the glory during the Ravens dominant defensive years and deservedly so.
The forgotten position in those defenses was the nose tackle, the unsung heroes of those defenses.
Whether it was Haloti Ngata, Tony Siragusa or Sam Adams, nose tackles anchored the middle of the defensive line, making it easier for Lewis to make plays. They did all the dirty work while nobody noticed.
The current Ravens don’t have that guy. Could it be Travis Jones, who was a third-round pick in last year’s draft? Time will tell. Justin Madubuike, another third-rounder, will likely man the void at defensive end with Calais Campbell no longer on the roster. A rotation of Broderick Washington, Michael Pierce and Brent Urban rounds out the current defensive line.
Baltimore could consider bolstering the interior of its D-line with a player defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald knows from his time at Michigan: nose tackle Mazi Smith. Smith was a consensus first-team All-Big Ten selection and was named the Wolverines’ Defensive Player of the Year in 2022. He’s an athletic freak for a man of his size.
Mazi Smith
Height: 6-foot-3
Weight: 337 pounds
Strengths: There might not be a better combo of size and speed at the position. Smith led all defensive linemen with 34 reps on the bench press at the NFL Scouting Combine, the only event he participated in at Indianapolis. Had he taken part in the rest of the testing, his value could have skyrocketed.
According to Bruce Feldman, Smith has been clocked at 4.41 seconds in the 20-yard shuttle and 6.95 seconds in three-cone drill. Both marks would have been the fastest of any defensive tackle at the Combine. He also reportedly has a 33-inch vertical and 9-4 ½ broad jump.
The size and strength allows him to eat up blocks and make plays in the run game. His speed allows him to get into the backfield and chase down ball carriers. He has all the physical skills to anchor of the defensive line.
Weakness: Despite his elite speed, Smith is a bit slow at the snap of the ball which allows offensive linemen to get their hands on him quickly. Once engaged, his short reach makes it difficult to shed blockers. He still needs to develop an arsenal of pass-rush moves, so he will be a two-down player early on. Teams will have to do their due diligence on his character after he pleaded guilty to a weapons possession during an arrest last season.
NFL Player Comparison: Dexter Lawrence
Draft Projection: Late Day 1 — Early Day 2
The Ravens locked up their modern-day Ray Lewis by making Roquan Smith the game’s highest-paid linebacker. They made serious investments at safety by signing Marcus Williams and drafting Kyle Hamilton. The club is hopeful that recent high draft choices Odafe Oweh and David Ojabo can bring the heat off the edges. What’s missing is the stud up front.
Smith is the ideal nose tackle in this era of football. He’s quick, powerful and athletic. He will take on double teams that will allow Roquan Smith to roam freely, and his familiarity of the defense would make him an instant impact player. He’s a perfect fit for the Ravens.
I currently have Mazi Smith as my 43rd overall player in this draft, but he could move up my draft board significantly if he tests as well as expected at Michigan’s Pro Day. Smith’s draft projection is like Travis Jones’ a year ago. He has a chance of sneaking into the later portion of the first round, but he’s likely to go on Day 2. Baltimore only has five picks in this year’s draft, so I can imagine a scenario in which they trade back to acquire extra picks and select the run-stuffing defensive tackle.
Photo Credit: U-M Photography