The Baltimore Ravens gave $19 million guaranteed to Tony Jefferson this offseason, which is $5 million more than what any other safety received in free agency.

Nearly two-thirds into the offseason workout program, it's already looking like this was a smart investment.

"My impressions would be A-plus in every area," coach John Harbaugh said of Jefferson. "I see him in the weight room, I see him in the conditioning, and I see him in the meeting room. I see his knowledge of the defense already."

Jefferson, the team's first signing in free agency this year, is a critical piece to an upgraded secondary for a team that knows it has to get past the likes of Tom Brady and Ben Roethlisberger to reach the Super Bowl.

Safety Tony Jefferson, a free-agent addition for the Ravens, has wasted no time in impressing coaches and teammates. Jamison Hensley/ESPN.com

Graded as the fifth-best safety last season by Pro Football Focus, Jefferson is a hard-hitting playmaker coming off a season of 96 tackles, two forced fumbles and two sacks in 15 games with the Arizona Cardinals. What has immediately stood out for Harbaugh was Jefferson's impact on a defense that was on the field for just its third practice of the offseason. The defense disguised its looks and made very few mistakes.

"I see how he and Eric [Weddle] interact back there," Harbaugh said. "We are causing the offense a lot of trouble. I think those two safeties back there have a big impact on that, and Eric has done a great job and Tony has done a great job."

The connection between Jefferson and Weddle began after the season. Weddle reached out to some of the younger safeties in the league because he had no one to lean on during his early years in the league. He didn't even know Jefferson was going to be a free agent.

A month later, before free agency, a coach was walking by Weddle and asked if he knew Jefferson.

"I just actually met him about a month ago," Weddle said.

Jefferson was ranked No. 20 on ESPN's list of top free agents and the top overall safety. Since he signed with the Ravens on the first day of free agency, he has impressed Weddle with his drive.

"Above all else, he is just a great kid that wants to be great," Weddle said. "He works extremely hard. He is talented, obviously. He can cover, he can hit, he can run. It is exciting to add a piece like that."

For Jefferson, it's more about building a rapport with Weddle and the defense. He is known to sit with everyone when eating in the cafeteria.

"This is a team game," Jefferson said. "Offensively, special teams, anywhere, I’m building chemistry with everybody. Like I said, defense is good, too, but everybody has to be on one accord, and that’s what I’m trying to do, get good chemistry with everybody."

Jefferson is known for his physical style and his presence closer to the line of scrimmage against the run. His 13 tackles for loss led all defensive backs in 2016 and marked the most by a defensive back since the stat began being tracked in 2008.

The one knock against him has been his coverage and his ability to play free safety. But he has improved on his impact in the passing game. Last season, he allowed completions on less than 50 percent of the passes thrown in his direction as well as a measly 7.1 yards per completion, according to Pro Football Focus.

"Everyone wants to get on him that they have not seen him play deep," Weddle said. "They [the Cardinals] did not ask him to do it, but I see him every day. I know what he can do; I have seen tape. His blitzing capabilities -- he is going to add a dimension that both of us moving around, teams are not going to know what we are doing and who is doing what. It is going to be an exciting element."