Roquan Smith played a key role in Ravens signing Eddie Jackson

Once Eddie Jackson started getting linked with a move to Baltimore, you instinctively knew that Roquan Smith would factor in the decision.

After all, Smith and Jackson were Chicago Bears teammates from 2018 to 2022. And the NFL is just like every other job search process—sometimes, you just have to have the right references.

With training camp opening up on Saturday, Smith met the media, and a reporter asked if he could put in a good word for Jackson with General Manager Eric DeCosta.

“Yes, I always tell the truth,” he answered.

Jackson, who signed a one-year deal, is not the same player as he was in 2018 when he was PFF’s highest-graded safety in the entire league. En route to the Pro Bowl and first-team All-Pro honors, Jackson finished fourth in the NFL in interceptions with six.

While his quality has dropped off since then, he’s still a good ball hawk, and he provides a definite upgrade over the third and fourth safeties on the depth chart.

Smith is very excited about reuniting with his former teammate in Chicago.

“I’m very happy to have Eddie here,” the former Bear said.

“He’ll be a great asset to our team. [He has] a lot of playmaking ability; he’s proved it before, so I think with the group of guys that we already have here, him coming along, it will be really good for him and then really good for us as well.”

Jackson and Smith should work incredibly well together here, as they already have experience playing alongside one another.