of baltimore ravens They have been one of the most consistent teams in the league over the past decade while also playing in one of the best divisions in the NFL. Over the past 10 seasons, they have only finished outside of the top two in their division three times. At the same time, it won three divisional honors, including the latest of the season.
In my opinion, the Ravens are one of the few teams that can't go wrong when it comes to roster construction. Offseason after offseason. Draft after draft. Ravens, 49ers And the Eagles consistently acquire draft picks and free agent contracts at a higher rate than most of the league. These franchises are well built by the best management teams in the league. They have an established culture that permeates from the front office to the field, so it's no surprise that success has closely followed them all.
The Ravens, in particular, had a very strong draft this past decade. They go beyond just hitting in terms of finding players who are contributing in some way, shape, or form. They are finding future stars in almost every class. Their 2023 season was the culmination of the work and time they put into their scouting department, with nearly double-digit players from the past four draft classes helping pave their way to the AFC's top seed. .
So let's take a look at who these players are and what role they played in leading the Ravens to a 13-4 record with Lamar Jackson as the league's presumptive MVP.
WR They Flowers
- Played in 16 games, played in 16 games
- 77 receptions, 858 receiving yards, 5 touchdowns
- 8 rushes, 56 rushing yards, 1 touchdown
Based on statistics alone, Flowers was the second-best receiver among the top four wideouts who went back-to-back in the first round last year. His 858 receiving yards and six total touchdowns were second only to Jordan Addison's 911 and 10 points. But in my opinion, based on the tape, Flowers was the best of the quarter as his passing numbers were inflated due to negative play and he didn't play inside the offense.
In his first year, Flowers led a very balanced Ravens offense in both receptions and yards. He's exciting with the ball in his hands, and it's easy to see how well his game translates to his modern-day NFL. He also had success on the ground, averaging seven yards per carry on eight totes and scoring a touchdown on an impressive jet sweep.
I think the Ravens have finally found their future WR1 in Lamar Jackson.
S Kyle Hamilton
- Played in 19 games, played in 31 games
- Career stats: 109 total tackles, 14 tackles for loss, 5 sacks, 18 passes defensed, forced fumble, 4 interceptions.
- All-Pro (2023), pro bowl (2023)
Hamilton, the Ravens' top draft pick in 2022, went from promising rookie to All-Pro in just one offseason. This season, Hamilton recorded 81 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, three sacks, 13 pass breakups and four interceptions. Unsurprisingly, he was named a first-team All-Pro in 2023 as the Ravens' top defensive player.
Hamilton's versatility is something Baltimore hopes to build on going forward, but just how much he needs to build on after a year in which he led the NFL in multiple defensive categories, including total points allowed and sacks. I wonder?
C Tyler Linderbaum
- Participated in 32 games, played in 32 games
- Pro Bowl (2023)
The Ravens completely blew out the 2022 draft class. This was one of those offseasons where you were like, “He can't keep running away like this!”memes from Breaking Bad. Over the past six seasons, the Ravens have finished the season with fewer than 10 wins only once, in 2021, when they went 8-9. They turned that unusually slow (by recent standards) year into Hamilton and Linderbaum here, arguably one of the best center prospects in recent memory.
Who would have thought that both players would develop into Pro Bowl-level talents within their first two years? Well, that's exactly what happened, and the Ravens benefit greatly from another young offensive linchpin. .
DT Travis Jones
- 3 starting games, 32 games
- Career stats: 60 total tackles, 5 tackles for loss, 3 pass breakups, 2.5 sacks.
Here's a look at players who haven't even started for the Ravens yet are making their mark on the team's success.
Jones, a 2022 draft pick, has started just three games but has appeared in nearly every game since the start of his rookie season. Despite not starting any of those three games this year, the behemoth set career highs in tackles (36), tackles or loss (4), and sacks (1.5). succeeded in doing so. His TFL and sack numbers are also the most of any Ravens defensive player who didn't start a game.
TE Isaiah is likely.
- Started 10 games, 32 games
- Career stats: 66 receptions, 784 receiving yards, 8 touchdowns.
He probably wasn't even the first of the two tight ends the Ravens drafted in the 2022 class, but he suddenly became one of the best backups on any NFL team. After starter Mark Andrews suffered a serious injury, Riley took over and continued to perform at a high level. He finished the season with 411 yards and five touchdowns, good for fourth and tied for second on the team, respectively.
The Ravens were the only team to finish in the top 25 at their position in terms of receiving yards with two tight ends, proving to everyone how important this position is to the overall success of the offense.
Perhaps a little more “Lightning” than Andrews' “Thunder,” but you'll have to give it to offensive coordinator Todd Monken for finding a way to get the most out of both of their abilities.
CB Brandon Stevens
- Started 31 games, played 48 games
- 189 total tackles, 3 tackles for loss, 2 interceptions, 0.5 sacks, 22 pass breakups.
Stevens, a third-round pick out of SMU in 2021, is certainly one of the lesser-known players on this list, but that doesn't mean he's any less of a consistent contributor than other players. . The 6-foot-1, 215-pounder has started nearly two-thirds of games in his career in Baltimore, and the 2023 season will be his first as a full-time starter. His two interceptions and 11 pass breakups are good for third and second on the team, respectively.
You know you're doing something right when you get a long-term starter at a premium position like cornerback in the third round.
LB Patrick Queen
- 67 games played, 67 games played
- 454 tackles, 37 tackles for loss, 13.5 sacks, 4 interceptions, 15 pass breakups, 5 forced fumbles, 6 fumble recoveries.
Queen, a first-round pick of the Ravens in 2020, has started all 67 games he played at the NFL level. He has produced results over four seasons, totaling over 450 tackles, 37 lost tackles, 13.5 sacks, 4 picks, 5 pass breakups, 5 forced fumbles, and 6 fumble recoveries. are doing. When it comes to defensive generals, filling out the stat sheet at that level is what you want.
Baltimore was able to pair him with Roquan Smith, giving the Ravs one of the best middle linebacker duos outside of the 49ers. Is it a coincidence that both teams earned the top seeds in their conferences? Maybe. Maybe not. Either way, you know they're doing something right because Queen made the Associated Press All-Pro team along with teammate Smith.
DT Justin Madubuike
- Played in 47 games, played in 59 games
- 153 total tackles, 29 lost tackles, 21.5 sacks, 5 pass breakups, forced fumbles.
After three average seasons, Madubuike reached a whole new level in 2023 with a breakout season for defensive tackles.Former 3rd round pick Texas A&M After averaging 8.5 points and 17 points through his first three seasons, he recorded a whopping 13 sacks and 12 tackles for loss (both team-leading).
Madubuike's ability to rush the passer from inside only helped the team's other pass rushers, as Jadeveon Clowney and Kyle Van Noy each had at least nine sacks in 2023. He was a big reason why the Ravens led the NFL in sacks this year.
S Genostone
- Played in 19 games, played in 31 games
- 127 total tackles, tackle for loss, 11 pass breakups, 8 interceptions, fumble recovery, forced fumble.
Talk about shining in the NFL.
Stone was drafted in the seventh round out of the University of Iowa in 2020. After starting just eight games in his first three seasons, he started 11 of 17 games in 2023 and led the team with a whopping seven interceptions. This total is the most in the NFL behind only Daron Brand of the Cowboys. His 68 total tackles and nine pass breakups also set career highs this season.
The 5-foot-10, 210-pound defender played a hybrid safety/linebacker role in college, making it difficult to determine his best position in the NFL. Fortunately for the Ravens, they appear to have cracked the key to getting the most out of a player many expected to be out for four years after being selected in the final round of the draft. .
