Roquan: Ravens 'in for something special' next season

Star linebacker Roquan Smith is envisioning plenty of success for the Baltimore Ravens in his first full season with the franchise.

"I'm just excited to get out there and fly around with the guys, because I think we're in for something special," Smith said on "The Lounge" podcast, per team reporter Ryan Mink.

"It's going to be probably my best year, at least the way I feel physically and mentally," Smith added.

The Ravens acquired Smith from the Chicago Bears prior to the trade deadline last season. He signed a five-year, $100-million extension with Baltimore in January to become the league's highest-paid linebacker.

Despite arriving in the middle of the season, Smith quickly picked up defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald's system. He recorded 86 tackles, seven tackles for loss, and two sacks over nine games with Baltimore in 2022. He was named a first-team All-Pro and earned his first Pro Bowl nod for his efforts.

Baltimore signed Odell Beckham Jr. and inked Lamar Jackson to a lucrative extension this offseason in a bid to improve on a 10-7 record that culminated in a loss to the Cincinnati Bengals in the wild-card round of the playoffs.

Smith hopes the Ravens can embrace a ruthless mentality next season.

"We want all the smoke, honestly," he said. "There's a lot of payback that we have out there. We'll get to it when we get to it, one week at a time."