Each NFL team’s worst contract on the books entering 2019
By Brad Weiss
Baltimore Ravens: Jimmy Smith
When the Baltimore Ravens signed cornerback Jimmy Smith to a new deal back in 2015, he was one of the best cornerbacks in the league. He was a cornerstone of a Ravens secondary that had won the Super Bowl two years prior. The Ravens gave Smith a four-year, $41 million contract, including $21 million in guaranteed money, as well as a $13 million signing bonus.
However, since that 2015 NFL season, Smith has yet to play in a full slate of games, starting 12 or fewer games in the last three seasons. His production has declined as well. Due to some nagging injuries, he is no longer considered the best cornerback on this roster, let alone one of the best in the NFL.
Smith started only 12 games last season, but the four games he missed was due to that he was suspended those games for violating the NFL’s personal conduct policy. With Marlon Humphrey and Brandon Carr on the roster, Smith is certainly not worth his price tag anymore, as he is the No. 1 cap hit on the Ravens roster heading into 2019.
The veteran cornerback will count over $15 million against the cap in 2019, which is the last year of the four-year deal he signed back in 2015. If the Ravens did decide to cut him, he would have a dead cap hit of over $6 million. So Baltimore is going to have to play this one out, and hope he can help a defense that should be one of the best in football once again in 2019.