Jimmy Smith named to Pro Football Focus’ mid-season All-Pro team

Pro Football Focus released its mid-season All Pro team on Tuesday, and one Raven made the cut: cornerback Jimmy Smith. Here’s what PFF’s Sam Monson had say about Smith:

“Elite Stat: Smith allows the league’s lowest passer rating when targeted at 27.9 this season.

In 2014 it looked like Jimmy Smith may have been on his way to being one of the game’s best cornerbacks, finally teaming his immense physical talent with play on the field. This is the first season he has been back to that level, and has actually surpassed it in 2017. He has allowed just 106 receiving yards all season, giving up a passer rating of just 27.9 when thrown at, more than ten points worse than if quarterbacks had just thrown the ball at the dirt instead.”

Smith made the All-Pro team as a “flex”, and not as a starting corner. The two cornerback spots went to Marshon Lattimore of the Saints and Jalen Ramsey of the Jaguars.

Smith has been given an 89.6 grade from Pro Football Focus, putting him fifth in the NFL behind Lattimore, Jason McCourty, Ramsey and Patrick Robinson respectively.

As noted by Monson, Smith has had an excellent season in 2017, easily the best of his career. It has been nearly impossible to throw on Smith, and the stats Monson provides prove this. Smith already has eight passes defended this year. In addition, Smith has two interceptions and two touchdowns, one a pick six and the other a scoop-and-score.

Smith has been the best player on what is the third best secondary in the NFL in terms of passing yards allowed. If he continues to produce this level of play, then he will be all but guaranteed a spot on the actual All-Pro team come the end of the year.