After signing safety Marcus Williams and offensive tackle Morgan Moses during the second day of 2022 free agency, the Baltimore Ravens apparently made another big splash the day after, as it reported that the team and former Green Bay Packers outside linebacker Za’Darius Smith had agreed on a four-year, $35 million deal that would be worth up to $50 millon. However, Smith then backed out of the deal the next day, sending Baltimore back to the drawing board.
Many have wondered why a reunion between the Ravens and Smith ended up not working out after things appeared to be at the finish line. Details have emerged about the situation and what led to Smith getting cold feet. Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk revealed that the outside linebacker and Baltimore had struck a deal on two separate occasions, only for Smith and his agent to come back to the team a third time with a new contract proposal, to which the Ravens passed on. Florio detailed what happened after the first deal was agreed upon.
“…Smith and his agent then proposed a different deal to the Ravens. The Ravens accepted the revised terms. They were then told that Smith would make a decision the next day…The next day, Smith and his agent proposed a dramatically different deal. The Ravens passed, and that was that.”
