Reports: Ravens sign L.J. Smith

UPDATE (6:29 p.m.): Jamison Hensley of The Baltimore Sun confirms the earlier profootballtalk.com report that the Ravens have agreed to terms with L.J. Smith. The Sun also reports that the deal is worth one year, $1.5 million.

From earlier:

Tight end L.J. Smith visited the Baltimore Ravens today, according to baltimoresun.com.

And according to profootballtalk.com, he's agreed to a one-year, $1.5 million deal.

The Ravens came out of nowhere as a suitor for the ex-Eagles tight end.

Previously it was believed that the Lions and Falcons were the primary teams interested, but yesterday reports surfaced that talks with Atlanta had broken off.

The Ravens, of course, have former Birds assistant John Harbaugh running the show.

Baltimore's starter at tight end is two-time Pro Bowler Todd Heap, but he has a history of being dinged up. Heap missed a pair of games last year and played in only six games in 2007.

The Ravens also drafted Quinn Sypniewski out of Colorado in the fifth round of the 2006 draft.

Smith was originally drafted by the Eagles in the second round of the 2003 draft. After strong showings in 2005 and 2006, his future in Philadelphia looked bright.

The team unexpectedly assigned him with the franchise tag before last season, and it didn't pay off as he managed just 37 catches for 298 yards and three touchdowns.