What made the Baltimore Ravens' inability to sneak into the Super Bowl in 2023 more frustrating was the fact they had the best roster in the NFL from top to bottom. Even after a tough free agency period, the Ravens once again came out of the offseason with a stacked group.
With an MVP quarterback, defensive players at all three levels that are fresh off All-Pro seasons, and emerging young talent ready to break out, Baltimore's strong roister construction should once again put them in rarified air when compared to the rest of the NFL.
CBS Sports' Pete Prisco ranked the Top 100 players in the NFL, and the Ravens had seven players on this list. Only the San Francisco 49ers had more representation on this list than Baltimore. Star quarterback Lamar Jackson clocked in at No. 16 overall on this ranking.
The three-headed Hydra of safety Kyle Hamilton, linebacker Roquan Smith, and defensive tackle Justin Madubuike came in at No. 36, 40, and 46, respectively. Two skill players in tight end Mark Andrews and star running back Derrick Henry clocked in at No. 61 and 91, while center Tyler Linderbaum barely made the cut as the 100th-ranked performer.
1. Patrick Mahomes
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6. Josh Allen
15. Joe Burrow@priscoCBS' Top 100 is LIVE ⬇️
7 Baltimore Ravens ranked in CBS Sports Top 100 players
Jackson has a bone to pick with these rankings, as he was the fourth-ranked quarterback behind Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen, and Joe Burrow. It appears as though winning an MVP and leading the team with the best record in the league to the AFC Championship doesn't make you better than Maxx Crosby or Ja'Marr Chase.
In keeping with PFF's positional rankings, Hamilton and Smith were both ranked as the second-best players at their positions behind Antoine Winfield Jr. and Fred Warner, respectively. Madubuike already was named the third-best defensive tackle behind Quinnen Williams and Dexter Lawrence, while Andrews ranked fourth among tight ends.
The Ravens have a deep team with stars all over the shop, which makes it even more frustrating that they fizzled out in the postseason. Unable to take advantage of a year when Mahomes and the Chiefs were struggling, the pressure to win is on in 2024.
If the Ravens are unable to finally break through in 2024, it will not be for lack of building a quality roster. Even after losing many of their most important players, Jackson and the rest of the roster are poised to compete for yet another No. 1 seed in the deep AFC.