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With the Rolando McClain experiment failing and rookie Arthur Brown recovering from sports hernia surgery, the Ravens decided they weren’t finished addressing the inside linebacker position, signing veteran Daryl Smith to a one-year deal on Wednesday.
The 31-year-old Smith spent the first nine seasons of his career in Jacksonville after being selected from Georgia Tech in the second round of the 2004 draft. A starter his entire career, the 6-2, 248-pounder posted a franchise-record 1,090 tackles (726 solo), 21 1/2 sacks, six interceptions, nine forced fumbles, and five fumble recoveries during his run with the Jaguars.
He was limited to just two games last season due to a sports hernia injury and became a free agent earlier this offseason.
With Jameel McClain still working his way back to 100 percent following a spinal cord contusion suffered last December and Brown not expected to return to workouts until the start of training camp, Smith provides a veteran presence the current group of linebackers is lacking and the versatility to play multiple positions.
He has started at both outside and middle linebacker in his career, with 103 of his 124 starts coming at outside linebacker. In seven consecutive seasons from 2005 through 2011, Smith recorded at least 100 tackles.
To make room on their 90-man offseason roster, the Raven waived third-year outside linebacker Michael McAdoo, who was once viewed as an intriguing project but spent each of his two seasons in Baltimore on injured reserve.
