NFL Top 100 Players: How Many Ravens Make the Cut?
The Baltimore Ravens have Super Bowl aspirations heading into the 2023 NFL season, as they've improved on an already-strong foundation with some savvy offseason moves.
Of course, the Ravens wouldn't have such lofty goals without some star players in their lineup. Baltimore has one of the league's better overall rosters, featuring a nice balance of offensive and defensive talent. As such, a few of those players managed to crack CBS Sports' recent ranking of the top 100 NFL players today.
Unsurprisingly, star quarterback Lamar Jackson is the first Raven to appear at No. 35. Jackson showed how special he can be when he won the league's MVP award in 2019, and even though he hasn't reached the same heights since, he is still one of the most electrifying players in the game.
"He hasn't finished the last two seasons because of injury, which is concerning. But when he's on the field, he's an electrifying playmaker," CBS Sports writes. "The new offense will be good for him."
Next, Jackson's favorite target, in tight end Mark Andrews checks in at No. 53. Andrews had a bit of a down season in 2022, and he'll have to earn his catches with the Ravens adding to their receiving corps this offseason. Nonetheless, he is still one of the league's best tight ends when healthy.
The third and final Raven to crack the list itself is linebacker Roquan Smith, who comes in at No. 76. After coming to Baltimore via a midseason trade with the Chicago Bears, Smith became an immediate star for the Ravens' defense and earned his first career All-Pro nod. With a new extension this offseason that makes him the highest-paid linebacker ever, Smith looks to build on his stellar Ravens debut.
"He finished third in the league in tackles and also had 4.5 sacks. The Ravens traded for him during the season and he became a big part of their defense after coming over from Chicago."
In addition to these three players, two other Ravens earned a spot in a lengthy honorable mentions section. Those two players both play in the secondary, being cornerback Marlon Humphrey and safety Kyle Hamilton.
If the Ravens can live up to their high expectations this season, expect to see more players on next year's top 100 list.
Follow Jonathan Alfano on Twitter
Follow the Baltimore Ravens Daily Blitz Podcast
Follow Raven Country on TwitterRavens Alert!
