Instant Analysis: Steve Smith signs with the Ravens

Ken Kelly Posted On March 14, 2014

smith

In an expected move, former Panthers receiver Steve Smith has signed with the Ravens on a three-year, $11 million contract. The deal reportedly includes a $3.5 million signing bonus. Smith has been a fantasy football staple for more than a decade as he’s posted 836 catches, 12,197 yards and 67 touchdowns over his thirteen-year career with the Carolina Panthers. Smith has always had a fiery personality and his recent production (he had just 64 catches for 745 yards and four touchdowns last season) apparently didn’t justify keeping him on the roster in Carolina any longer. As such, the Panthers cut bait with the player who has long been the face of the franchise and let him hit the open market. The Ravens wasted no time in adding Smith to their receiving corps and signed him less than 24 hours after he was released.

The move certainly has some dynasty impact, so let’s take a look at the parties involved.

Steve Smith, WR BAL

Smith has always played best when he has a chip on his shoulder. He’ll have a big one now as the Panthers obviously felt he’d lost a step. There’s no doubt he’ll show up to camp in shape and ready to play. The harsh reality is Smith is a 35-year old receiver who can’t get the same separation he did years ago. Smith hasn’t had a season with more than eight scores since 2006 and that likely won’t change any time soon. He also averaged just 11.6 yards per reception last year, which is his lowest average since 2007. Joe Flacco has a big arm, but Torrey Smith is the receiver who will be asked to take the top off the defense. Smith will likely be used in the Anquan Boldin-like role in the Baltimore offense and Boldin’s 2012 line of 65/921/4 seems like it could be in reach if Smith stays healthy and keeps that chip on his shoulder all season. With Torrey Smith and Dennis Pitta being options one and two, expecting anything more than that would be a little greedy. Owners of Smith are in a really awkward position as he’s going to be good enough to be on rosters, but not really good enough to have in your lineup consistently. In short, his name is bigger than his game at this point.

Torrey Smith, WR BAL

Smith had a good season last year with 65 catches for 1,128 yards and four scores. The addition of Steve Smith won’t hurt him a bit. In fact, having Smith around to move the chains may even allow Torrey some more room to work over the top. A similar season should be well within reach for him and an increase in touchdowns could be assumed since he had only four last year. As always, those are tough to predict, but he should be targeted enough to improve.

Dennis Pitta, TE BAL

I don’t see this move hurting Pitta much at all, either. Again, Torrey Smith and Pitta are certainly going to be the two most targeted receivers in Baltimore next season and Steve Smith should do nothing but keep defenses honest. He could lose a few goal line targets, but that’s hard to say. There’s no reason to panic if you own Pitta. Steve Smith is simply a nice veteran to add to an offense that could use a complementary piece or two.

Marlon Brown, Kamar Aiken, Aaron Mellette, Deonte Thompson, Jacoby Jones, WRs BAL

The addition of Smith isn’t good news for any of these players. However, it can’t really come as a surprise the Ravens would add to this uninspiring second unit of players. Thompson and Brown likely have the most upside, but it’s going to take a few injuries to see a lot of production from either of them.

Joe Flacco, QB BAL

This signing can’t hurt, that’s for sure. In Steve Smith, Flacco gets another reliable veteran receiver who knows how to play the position. After this many years, we know what Flacco is – a QB2 who you can’t build your dynasty team around. This signing changes nothing on that front. Unfortunately, he is what he is in fantasy terms.

Cam Newton, QB CAR

The release of Smith is only surprising because the Panthers are also going to be losing Ted Ginn Jr (who signed with Arizona) and Brandon LaFell (currently on his free agent tour) as well. If the season started today, the Panthers would roll out Tavarres King and Marvin McNutt. Newton is good, but that’s just suicide. Look for the Panthers to be even more active in free agency and the draft as they need not one, but two or three new receivers to add to their receiving corps.

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Ken Kelly

Co-Founder at DynastyLeagueFootball

Ken is a corporate trainer by day an a tireless editor of dynasty content by night. His passion for the World Champion Seattle Seahawks is second only to his love of fantasy football and the dynasty format.

Ken is on Twitter at DLF_KenK