Jermaine Eluemunor earns PFWA NFL All-Rookie team honors

Baltimore Ravens rookie fifth-round offensive lineman Jermaine Eluemunor was selected on the PFWA’s All-Rookie team.

While Justin Tucker and C.J. Mosley headlined the awards for the Baltimore Ravens this offseason, a rookie has added himself on the list. Fifth-round offensive guard Jermaine Eluemunor was selected on the All-Rookie team by the Pro Football Writers Association.

The annual list highlights the top rookies at each position and Eluemunor made the guard list along with Dan Freeny of the Los Angeles Chargers and Ethan Pocic of the Seattle Seahawks.

Eluemunor appeared in eight games this season starting just two. He made the list largely in part to the small number of rookie offensive lineman that played throughout the 2017 season. Unlike skill positions, teams typically don’t start rookies on the offensive line.

While many will try to spin this as a joke, why fault Eluemunor? It’s not like he elected himself on the list. Due to the extreme amount of injuries the Ravens suffered on the offensive line this season, Eluemunor was thrust into an unusual situation for late-round picks. Neither he nor the Ravens expected this to happen but it can be taken away as a positive. While he might have struggled on the field, it’s much-needed experience going forward.

For those asking about Matt Skura, he was not eligible to make the list. He was an undrafted free agent in 2016. Even though he saw his first game action this season, it doesn’t count.

Out of all of the Ravens’ rookies, cornerback Marlon Humphrey had the best case to make the list. Unfortunately, he wasn’t the only rookie cornerback who had a strong season. Marshon Lattimore and Tre’Davious White took the honors and you have to imagine Humphrey was a close third.

Next: Baltimore Ravens: Top 5 free agents to target

It wasn’t a strong showing for the Ravens’ rookie class and they’ll look to build on that come next season.