Ex-Ravens 3-Time Pro Bowler Wants Back in Baltimore

Baltimore, MD – June 21, 2025

A former defensive star who once terrorized quarterbacks at M&T Bank Stadium is quietly hinting at a potential return to the place where his professional journey began. After years of bouncing around the league and still producing at a high level, he’s sent a message that has Ravens fans raising their eyebrows.

That player is Za'Darius Smith, the edge rusher drafted by Baltimore in the fourth round back in 2015. He exploded with 8.5 sacks in his final season with the team before embarking on a career that included Pro Bowl-caliber stops in Green Bay, Minnesota, Cleveland, and most recently, Detroit. Now, as he eyes the twilight of his career, Smith says the fire to return to Baltimore never went out.

"I’ve never really felt like I left Baltimore,” Smith said in a recent podcast. “That’s where it started — that’s family. If they need some pressure off the edge, I’m ready to go.”

Despite being 32, Smith proved in 2024 that he still has gas in the tank, racking up 9 sacks across stints with the Browns and Lions. His release from Detroit in March — a cap-saving move worth $5.7 million — was more about finances than performance, and it left a glaring hole in the Lions’ pass rush.

Baltimore, meanwhile, quietly faces depth concerns at edge rusher. With Jadeveon Clowney gone and Tyus Bowser battling injuries, the Ravens are leaning heavily on unproven names like Odafe Oweh and David Ojabo. A seasoned presence like Smith could instantly stabilize the unit while providing leadership and playoff-tested grit.

The main obstacle is financial. After locking in massive deals with Lamar Jackson, Roquan Smith, and Ronnie Stanley, the Ravens would likely need Smith to accept a team-friendly, short-term contract — perhaps under $7 million per year. But from a schematic and cultural standpoint, the fit couldn’t be cleaner. Smith already knows the system, the coaches, and the locker room.

"I know the scheme. I know Lamar. I know the guys in that building. I wouldn’t hesitate if that call came," Smith said with genuine emotion.

Baltimore enters 2025 with Super Bowl LX aspirations — but a few key pieces remain missing. Perhaps one of those pieces is an old friend, still full of fire, still ready to hunt.

Will the Ravens bring No. 90 home to finish what he started?