Savage: The 2018 Draft Features A “Reincarnation” Of Ray Lewis

   April 7, 2018

Phil Savage has worked in about every NFL personnel role imaginable.

From scout to general manager, “Senior Bowl Phil” has done it all.

Coincidentally, Savage was the director of college scouting in Baltimore when the Ravens drafted Ray Lewis and says the 2018 draft will feature a “reincarnation” of the first-ballot hall of famer.

“I was taken back by Roquan Smith. This kid is a reincarnation of a Ray Lewis who we drafted in Baltimore when I was there in 1996.”

”He’s got passion, energy, burst, acceleration. He makes players around him better.”

”He’s going to be a top-10 pick… [but] the money is not really important to him because he’s cut from that mold that he absolutely loves the sport.”

Savage’s full statement on SiriusXM Radio can be heard below.

The Ravens drafted Lewis with the 26th pick in the 1996 draft, but the Raiders – who badly need a linebacker – will probably have to take Smith with their 10th overall pick if they want him.

Who says “no” to that?

twitter: @raidersbeat

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29 thoughts on “Savage: The 2018 Draft Features A “Reincarnation” Of Ray Lewis”

    1. This kid can’t shed a block therefore couldn’t be Ray Lewis, maybe you’re favorite olb.

      1. Ray Lewis couldn’t shed blocks either, he needed guys like tony Siragusa, sam adams and nghata. He said it him self! Justwinbaby!

    2. No way in hell R. Smith is even close to Ray Lewis in comparisons. Don’t be baited into signing this player Oakland Raiders.. He is too undersized for a middle linebacker and the tape proved that.

      1. He’s the same size as ray and Patrick Willis. Let him develop jeez. Even if he’s not a Mike, we could use a weak side lb who can cover. When’s the last time we had that?? Your telling a guy who scouted a hall of a Famer that he doesn’t know hof talent when he sees it? I believe he’s in the know better than you bud.

      2. When Lewis didn’t have tony saragusa and Sam Adams he cried like a baby cause he couldn’t shed blocks. Lewis was a great player don’t get me wrong, but he had a lot help. Ravens made sure they always had guys in front of him to let him roam free. Lewis wasn’t great at shedding blocks either, watch that old games vs the chiefs when will shields and that front line dominated his *** cause he didn’t have his big boys up front. Roquan Smith will be a great pro we’d be lucky to have him, but there’s other good players also. Well c. Justwinbaby!

      3. They said the same stuff about r.lewis when he came out, that’s why he dropped to the late 1st round. R.smith will be a great pro, guess u haven’t seen him play, this man has great speed and instincts, don’t get caught up in the height weight bull crap!

    1. Except Ray Lewis never got blown off the line at the point of attack by a guard. Smith will be a great weak side LB but Raiders need to stop the run up the middle and push the pocket on passing. Vita Vea @ #10.

      1. Never! You crazy! Go back and do some home work, watch that year after siragusa and Adams left, Ray Lewis was dominated by the chiefs o-line, he was crying like a baby on sunday night football he was miked up!

    3. Vita Vea is getting all the hype because he is huge and has a cool name. Mo Hurst is a much better player and gets a hell of a lot more interior pressure than Vea. If he checks out medically the Raiders should grab him. Top five talent.

      1. I agree on hurst. I like him better than vea. Vea doesnt solve the interior pass rush he’s just a hell of a run stuffer. Hurst is both and is getting overlooked only due to the medical condition he had. If raiders can somehow trade back into the late 1st rd and grab hurst that would be amazing.

    4. Vea doesnt solve the interior pass rush he’s just a hell of a run stuffer. Hurst is both and more versatile.

  5. Not saying he’s gonna be the next Ray Lewis but Roquan Smith is the same size as Lewis when he came outta college, and nobody said he was small or couldn’t shed blocks, I know tape dosent lie but just saying, he will definitely gain some weight in the NFL but hopefully not to much and lose his speed, he’s very fast & the Raiders could use him big time, but who knows what Gruden is gonna do with the 10th pick-if we stay there, I could see him trading back 3-4 spots and grabbing Mo Hurst or Vea (if still there).

  8. Edmunds should be the pick if he’s there. W/ all the QBs going he should still be available RN4L

  11. Vita vea is a one dimensional player, gap stuffer/run stopper…we need an all around player at the d tackle position and Vea is not the answer

  13. I say take Roquan at #10. Gruden says he wants guys who play with passion, who just love to play the game of football, grinders. Isn’t that Smith in a nutshell. Because of the combine health concerns maybe Maurice Hurst is there when we pick in the 2nd round, so we get him then.

  14. I say take Roquan at #10. Gruden says he wants guys who play with passion, who just love to play the game of football, grinders. Isn’t that Smith in a nutshell. Because of the combine health concerns maybe Maurice Hurst is there when we pick in the 2nd round, so we get him then.

  15. Smith may be small but seeing success of light-weight LB like Telvin Smith and Deon Jones, I have no problem with him. He will be a great player. What I like most about him written in many reports is that he is an emotional leader who fires up the whole team. We need guys like him to become champion.

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