Baltimore Ravens: 12 Ravens listed on Sports Illustrated’s top 400 NFL players list
By Ben Palmer
The Baltimore Ravens have 12 of their current players featured on Sports Illustrated’s MMQB 400 list, a list of the top-400 players in the NFL.
The Baltimore Ravens have 12 of their current players featured on Sports Illustrated’s MMQB 400 list, a list of the top-400 players in the NFL.
According to SI’s Andy Benoit, who put the list together, the rankings were determined almost entirely based on the film of the player, rarely taking stats into consideration. Benoit also said that factors such as raw talent, skill set, and role on the team were taken into consideration.
The list did not include special teams players for two reasons. First special teams players change roles frequently year-to-year, and second, there are significantly fewer special teams snaps than offensive and defensive snaps each year.
Benoit also said that rookies were not included, as it’s impossible to really judge a rookie in the NFL considering they haven’t played yet.
On the list of 400, here are the members of the Baltimore Ravens and where they were ranked on the list, from lowest to highest:
394. Danny Woodhead (RB)
324. Ronnie Stanley (LT)
323. Michael Pierce (3-4 DE)
279. Brandon Carr (CB)
274. Jeremy Maclin (WR)
136. Joe Flacco (QB)
122. Eric Weddle (FS)
112. Tony Jefferson (SS)
101. C.J. Mosley (MLB)
85. Terrell Suggs (3-4 OLB)
69. Marshal Yanda (RG)
47. Brandon Williams (NT)
Of those Baltimore Ravens on the list, four of them (Jefferson, Maclin, Carr, and Woodhead) are players the team added via free agency this past offseason. It’s also no surprise that, given how good the Ravens defense was last season, that the majority of their players on this list are on defense.
As for other non-Ravens members of the list, here’s how the top-10 looked:
10. Antonio Brown (WR, Pittsburgh Steelers)
9. Julio Jones (WR, Atlanta Falcons)
8. Khalil Mack (4-3 DE, Oakland Raiders)
7. Rob Gronkowski (TE, New England Patriots)
6. Aaron Rodgers (QB, Green Bay Packers)
5. Le’Veon Bell (RB, Pittsburgh Steelers)
4. Luke Kuechly (MLB, Carolina Panthers)
3. Von Miller (3-4 OLB, Denver Broncos)
2. J.J. Watt (3-4 DE, Houston Texans)
1. Tom Brady (QB, New England Patriots)
In all honesty, that top-10 isn’t all that surprising, especially Brady at number one, though I think you could make a fair argument of putting Rodgers ahead of him.
Next: The Ravens Should Sign Colin Kaepernick
As for the top players at positions not featured in the top ten, the Dallas Cowboys had the top tackle (Tyron Smith), guard (Zack Martin), and center (Travis Frederick) on the list. Patrick Peterson of the Arizona Cardinals was the top cornerback, and Earl Thomas of the Seattle Seahawks was the top safety.