The
boast one of the NFL’s deepest and most talented rosters. From top to bottom, few teams could match the talent level that the Ravens have.
That’s a credit to general manager Eric DeCosta, the Ravens coaching staff, and the players themselves for making this organization one of the very best in the NFL.
Of course, not every position group on the team is stacked.
The Ravens pass rush is pretty thin with a collection of role players and unproven talents making up a lackluster group, at least on paper.
Although improved in the offseason, the Ravens’ wide receiver room is far from the best the league has to offer. Even with the additions of Rashod Bateman and Sammy Watkins, it remains a work in progress.
The Ravens have holes, but what team doesn’t?
And at the same time, they have a number of position groups that are not only among the NFL’s best, but have a legitimate claim to be the top unit in the league.
When looking at these position groups, it’s no wonder that the Ravens boast one of the best rosters in the NFL.
Let’s take a look at three Ravens position groups that could very well be better than every other team.
3. The Ravens might have the best running backs in the NFL
The Ravens might not have the most noteworthy names in their backfield. There’s no Christian McCaffrey, no Derrick Henry, no Saquon Barkley, no Alvin Kamara, no Dalvin Cook, and no Nick Chubb.
But when looking at the stats, it’s hard to argue that the Ravens don’t have one of the most talented running back rooms in the NFL.
J.K. Dobbins emerged as one of the league’s best young running backs with a spectacular rookie campaign that saw him finish with 805 yards and nine touchdowns on just 134 carries.
His 6.0 yards per carry was best among all running backs with a sizable 0.4-yard drop to the next-best player. Of course, his sample size was a little more limited than a few others, but he still had enough carries to qualify.
His running mate, Gus Edwards is also among the most efficient runners in football. Edwards has never averaged fewer than 5.0 yards per carry in a season in his career — the only player to accomplish that feat over the last three years.
Edwards’ 5.0 yards per carry (amazingly a career-low) still ranked 10th among all NFL running backs giving the team two of the top-10 most efficient running backs in the league.
This isn’t even including quarterback Lamar Jackson who led the league with a stunning 6.3 yards per carry. How much of this is due to the team’s scheme and how much is talent?
That’s impossible to say. But what is clear is that if the Ravens don’t have the best backfield in the NFL, they do have one of the best.
2. The Ravens might have the best tight ends in the NFL
The Ravens have long been a team that values tight end depth, and their current roster construction is evidence of that.
Atop the depth chart is the ever-consistent Mark Andrews who remains one of the best tight ends in football and a favorite of Lamar Jackson.
Andrews has topped 700 yards in each of the last two seasons including a breakout 2019 season that saw him finish with 64 catches for 852 yards and 10 touchdowns.
He’s undisputedly a top-five tight end in football and the most valuable receiving target on the Ravens roster. That said, he’s not alone.
Nick Boyle is one of the more underappreciated tight ends in the NFL and perhaps the strongest run blocker at this position. Boyle is an important part of Baltimore’s dominant rushing attack.
Andrews and Boyle already represent arguably the best tight-end duo in the league, but there’s even more depth behind them.
The likes of Josh Oliver, Eric Tomlinson, Eli Wolf, and Jacob Breeland are all competing for the No. 3 tight end job and each has a case to earn a roster spot.
Once more, that’s not even counting Pro Bowl fullback Patrick Ricard or fifth-round pick Ben Mason who each line up at tight end from time to time.
If we were including a position like fullback, it’s hard to imagine any team having a more talented depth chart.
The Ravens love their tight ends, and as such, they might very well have the best group in the NFL.
1. The Ravens might have the best cornerbacks in the NFL
The other two position groups on this list are up for debate. You can pinpoint a handful of other teams that have stronger running back groups. There might be a team or two with a better collection of tight ends.
But without a doubt, the Ravens have not only the most talented, but the deepest roster of cornerbacks in the entire NFL. This isn’t a debate.
Marlon Humphrey is a top-five cornerback in football. Marcus Peters isn’t too far behind him. Together, the two represent likely the best cornerback duo in the NFL.
Even if it was just them, the Ravens would have a strong case for the best cornerback group in the league. But it’s the depth behind them that truly solidifies this notion.
Jimmy Smith is still a darn good player even as he nears 33-years-old. When healthy, he remains a rock-solid starting-caliber cornerback.
The same could be said for slot cornerback Tavon Young. Young has had his career decimated by injuries, but it wasn’t too long ago that he was considered one of the best young nickel corners in football.
Even Anthony Averett is another possibly starting-caliber player who just finds himself buried on the depth chart. That’s not even including the likes of Shaun Wade and Brandon Stephens, although the latter could see more time at safety.
The Ravens are absolutely stacked at cornerback and without a doubt claim the title of the best cornerback group in the NFL.