OT Andre Smith becomes the second Raven to voluntarily opt out of 2020 season
On Monday wide receiver and return specialist, De’Anthony Thomas became the first Baltimore Ravens player to utilize the NFL’s voluntary opt-out option for the 2020 season due to concerns stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic. Thomas was just the second player to do so and since, several other veterans league-wide and even some younger players and rookie have followed suit, including Ravens offensive tackle Andre Smith.
The former first-round pick of the Cincinnati Bengals that was taken sixth overall out of Alabama in 2009 joined the Ravens in early January following the regular season after being released by the Bengals in December. Smith was inactive for Baltimore’s loss to the Tennessee Titans and was and was resigned back in February. He was the favorite to replace James Hurst who got released early this offseason as Baltimore’s primary swing tackle that would backup both All-Pro left tackle Ronnie Stanley and Pro Bowl right tackle Orlando Brown Jr.
Smooth will receive a $150,000 salary advance for the year but will not get an accrued or credited season. In a corresponding move to fill his vacated roster spot the Ravens brought back veteran offensive linemen Parker Ehinger who can play both guard and tackle and was active for two games for Baltimore in 2019 after being promoted from the practice squad, including a start in the final week of the regular season.
Another alternative option the Ravens could turn to for their backup tackle spot is rookie Tyree Phillips who was drafted in the bottom of the third round out of Mississippi State back in April. He’s expected to compete for the starting right guard position that opened up following the retirement of eight-time Pro Bowler Marshal Yanda this offseason but he has experience at offensive tackle after starting 13 games on the blindside for the Bulldogs in 2019 as a senior and appeared on 13 games as a junior in 2018.
