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3 Baltimore Ravens who belong in the NFL Top 100

By Chris Schisler

Sep 25, 2016; Jacksonville, FL, USA; Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Allen Hurns (88) runs after a catch in the second quarter as Baltimore Ravens strong safety Eric Weddle (32) defends at EverBank Field. Baltimore Ravens won 19-17. Mandatory Credit: Logan Bowles-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 25, 2016; Jacksonville, FL, USA; Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Allen Hurns (88) runs after a catch in the second quarter as Baltimore Ravens strong safety Eric Weddle (32) defends at EverBank Field. Baltimore Ravens won 19-17. Mandatory Credit: Logan Bowles-USA TODAY Sports /
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Sep 18, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Baltimore Ravens guard Marshal Yanda (73) walks off the field following the game against the Cleveland Browns at FirstEnergy Stadium. The Ravens defeated the Browns 25-20. Mandatory Credit: Scott R. Galvin-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 18, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Baltimore Ravens guard Marshal Yanda (73) walks off the field following the game against the Cleveland Browns at FirstEnergy Stadium. The Ravens defeated the Browns 25-20. Mandatory Credit: Scott R. Galvin-USA TODAY Sports /

1. Marshall Yanda

Marshall Yanda is the toughest football player on the Ravens. He is the Ravens rock on the offensive line, their rock and their leader. He is a great run blocker and no offensive lineman protects Joe Flacco better than him. When you consider how much he means to the purple and black, how can you consider him anything less than a top 100 player?

Yanda battled injury in 2016 and he only missed three games. When Alex Lewis went down, he moved from left guard to right guard. There is nothing Yanda can’t do for the Ravens up front. According to Pro Football Focus’s Matt Claassen, Marshall Yanda was the best offensive linemen in the league last year. This is just some of his analysis: 

"“While Yanda shines in both facets of blocking, he has always been a marginally better run blocker compared to pass protection — at least until the last season or two. In 2016, he allowed just six hurries on 612 snaps this season for a 99.2 pass-blocking efficiency, the highest rate by a guard in the PFF era (since 2006).”"

That’s some pretty impressive stuff from the right guard whose been to the Pro Bowl six times. It’s hard to imagine that Yanda won’t be on the list, especially because the players are supposed to be doing the voting. Who could possibly have more respect from the players than a future inductee to the Pro Football Hall of Fame, that is still playing great football?

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