Baltimore Ravens: How Many Make NFL Top 100?

The Baltimore Ravens had seven players make the NFL Top 100 list prior to the 2015 season. That number should drop considerably this year.

The Ravens were coming off a strong showing in the playoffs heading into last season. Many throughout the league expected that they would be back in the hunt. That was evident in the numbers of players that were voted in the NFL Top 100 last year.

Seven Ravens made the list a year ago: Joe Flacco (97), C.J. Mosley (94), Terrell Suggs (84), Marshal Yanda (79), Justin Forsett (65), Steve Smith (54) and Elvis Dumervil (46).

That number should be nowhere near the same leading up to the 2016 season. In fact, I expect only three or four to make the group.

As the rankings were revealed last season, we had a gripe with the fact that Yanda was ranked so low. Arguably the top offensive lineman in football was not only not ranked in the top 50, but was ranked all the way down at No. 79.

What made the list more confusing was that Forsett was ranked ahead of the All-Pro guard. Forsett did have a stellar 2014 season, but his peers already ranked him ahead of Yanda? It did not make sense.

Heading into this season, the only sure thing I have making the list is Yanda once again. He should have been ranked higher than he was last season, and it would be absurd if he does not rise in these rankings. He is one of the best and is coming off another dominant season. Other than that, it’s really a toss-up as to who else makes it.

It’s hard to imagine Flacco and Forsett to make it again. Even before injuries came into play, it is not like they were playing at a Pro Bowl level.

More from The Baltimore Wire

Smith was tearing it up before an Achilles injury knocked him out for the season. However, the current list available to us has five receivers that put up the numbers that are worthy to get recognition. If Smith makes it once again, it’s because of his achievements since joining the organization. Just don’t be surprised when his name is not listed.

The two pass rushers, Suggs and Dumervil, should be left off. Suggs obviously drops because of his injury, but Doom will also likely fall off the list because the league saw how ineffective he is without Suggs on the other end.

That leaves the Ravens with one other player though could make the list once again. That is Mosley, and I would expect him to rise in the rankings. He is considered one of the bright young stars at his position. How much higher will he go? Expect him to be on the list of players that are revealed next week on NFL Network.

That gives me two players I feel are worthy of the honor: Mosley and Yanda. The other player that makes sense is newly acquired safety Eric Weddle. He was ranked 86th last season, and while 2015 was not one of his stat-stuffing seasons, he is still one of the best at his position. He is another player I would expect to see in the upcoming week.

Outside of that, it really is a guessing game. Twenty names have already been released and that is the area in which three Ravens were named last season. Coming off a 5-11 season, many around the NFL are going to rank the Ravens poorly.

I said three or four and have given you three that I feel will make the list for sure. If there is going to be another name on the list, it will depend on how the league feels about the production of Smith or Dumervil last season. A fifth player would really stun me and question the voting process.

Next: Position Battles to Watch This Offseason

The Baltimore Ravens do have some players on their squad. There is no denying that. What they do not have at this moment is a large group of players deserving to be considered the best in the NFL.

Home/Baltimore Ravens