NFL Rumors: Baltimore Ravens want to sign Jimmy Smith to long-term deal

The Baltimore Ravens are planning ahead when it comes to keeping cornerback Jimmy Smith around for the long haul.

According to head coach John Harbaugh, the Ravens plan to exercise Smith’s 2015 option as well as seek a long-term deal beyond that. From ProFootballTalk:

"We have no doubt that we’ll be investing the option in Jimmy when the time comes…We are hopeful that we can sign Jimmy long-term. That will be our goal.”"

Smith is probably most famous for his coverage on Michael Crabtree in Baltimore’s Super Bowl victory in 2013 on a play that had Jim Harbaugh and the rest of the San Francisco 49ers beside themselves that no flag was thrown.

With that visible moment aside, Smith has developed into a solid #2 corner to play opposite Lardarius Webb in the Baltimore secondary. Three years into his career, the University of Colorado product had his best season in 2013. He played all 16 games, intercepted two passes and forced two fumbles.

With years of improvement still in front of him, it makes sense that the Ravens want to lock him up long-term.