8. Brandon Williams
Brandon Williams needs to get some love for being the key to the Ravens stopping the run. Williams is a huge defensive tackle who is an immovable object. He’s going to get in your way and he’s going to force double teams. While he’s only had 6.5 sacks in his career to this point, Williams isn’t that kind of defensive tackle. Ravens history is filled with examples of how there are two different kind of difference makers for the defensive line. Space eaters will never go out of style in Baltimore.
Williams is the only current player on the list. I have a feeling in time we could probably include Calais Campbell and maybe even Justin Madubuike in these rankings. Williams was a Pro Bowl player in 2018 and his importance to the Ravens is easy to see. When he’s in the game the Ravens defense is dramatically better against the run.
7. Tony Siragusa
Full disclosure here, Tony Siragusa is the reason I named my pug Goose. Siragusa may be my favorite player on this list, so it was tempting to put him a bit higher. Siragusa may be one of the best players in NFL history not to make the Pro Bowl. He was very good, and you could make the argument that he was borderline great. Siragusa played seven years for the Indianapolis Colts before ending up with the Ravens. He had a good run in Indianapolis but he will always be remembered for his part in the Super Bowl XXXV run.
As a Raven he had 159 tackles, with five and a half sacks and four fumble recoveries. He played for the Ravens from 1997-2001. Siragusa was there before the defense was dominant and he played a hand in making it historically good before he retired. His sack against Rich Gannon in the AFC Championship game was probably a top five moment from that Super Bowl season. Siragusa always had and will always have a fun and big personality. He’s one of the first players you think about when you think about the 2000 Ravens.