The Ravens started yesterday with six players among the top 100 on Pete Prisco’s list. But, after Baltimore GM Eric DeCosta listened to Lamar Jackson and signed star corner Jaire Alexander to a 1-year deal, they ended the day with seven.
All 3 Ravens on Offense Returning to Top 100 Players List
The Ravens boasted one of the league’s best offenses in 2024, thanks to the three players listed among this year’s top 100. Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry clicked as well as any duo in league history, rushing for a combined 2,836 yards. Saquon Barkley and Jalen Hurts finished with the second-best mark of all time at 2,635 yards. Both duos smashed the previous record (2,428 yards) set by Washington‘s Robert Griffin III and Alfred Morris in 2012.
Prisco calls Jackson “the best dual-threat quarterback in the game” who has “improved in all facets of his game.” What else is there to say about Lamar Jackson at this point? In his first 7 seasons, Jackson has racked up 2 MVPs, 3 First-Team All-Pro nods and 4 Pro Bowl berths. The only knock throughout his time in Baltimore has been Jackson’s inability to close out playoff games. Jackson’s 3-5 playoff record isn’t the worst, but the losses have cut deep. Last year’s loss to the Bills was especially back-breaking, leading the Ravens to have vengeance on their minds. Jackson has earned his spot among the top 100 players, coming in at No. 6 on this year’s list.
Henry rocketed up the rankings this year, going from No. 91 to No. 14. “All King Henry did was rush for 1,921 yards in his first season with the Ravens to show he’s far from slowing down,” writes Prisco. “At 31, he is beating back Father Time — for now.” If Henry can hold off Father Time for another year, the Ravens back should compete for yet another All-Pro team. Whether that will be a First-Team spot or Second-Team one may depend on Saquon Barkley’s workload. It’s possible that he takes a step back this year following a career-high 436 carries in 2024.
The other offensive player who returned to the list was center Tyler Linderbaum. The 25-year-old center has consistently been one of the top players at his position over his first three seasons. Linderbaum has earned 2 consecutive Pro Bowl berths and just missed out on earning an All-Pro nod last year. Linderbaum played a key role in Derrick Henry’s elite performance last season, and should earn himself “a hefty contract extension in the near future,” according to Prisco.
3 of 4 Defensive Players Returning From 2024 List
Following a fourth Pro Bowl berth and second First-Team All-Pro nod, cornerback Marlon Humphrey returned to the top 100 list this season at No. 68. His bounce-back season in 2024 included a career-high 6 interceptions and a PFF coverage grade of 81.0. PFF‘s John Kosko ranked Humphrey as the No. 7 safety heading into the 2025 season. That’s just a couple of spots ahead of his new teammate, Jaire Alexander. Prisco says that Humphrey “excels in the slot,” which means he should pair extremely well with Alexander.
Speaking of Jaire Alexander, the newest Raven has been slowed down by injuries, “but when he’s on the field he remains a top cover player,” writes Prisco. “For him, it’s just a matter of staying healthy to be considered a top corner, but that’s in large part why the Packers released him last week.” He dropped 15 spots from last season’s rankings, from No. 64 to No. 79. But the Ravens’ depth should allow him he can settle in among their top-level defensive backfield and stay healthy. If everything goes according to plan, Alexander should find himself back on the top 100 list for 2026.
Elite safety Kyle Hamilton earned the highest ranking among the Ravens’ defensive players. The fourth-year pro slotted at No. 36 for the second consecutive season. That should come as no surprise, considering he earned his second straight Pro Bowl berth and All-Pro nod. Hamilton is the most complete safety in the league, earning the No. 1 spot in PFF‘s Zoltán Buday’s rankings. Buday points out that Hamilton had the distinction of being “the only safety to earn at least an 88.0 PFF grade in coverage, run defense and pass rushing” in 2024. “He is also capable of being a menace near the line of scrimmage if asked to do so,” writes Prisco. His ability to move around unlocked a next level for the Ravens defense toward the end of 2024. When it comes time for him to sign an extension, Hamilton could command a record-setting $100 million contract.
The final Raven to be featured among the top 100 players is Roquan Smith, who experienced a precipitous drop from No. 40 last year to No. 87. Smith’s decline in play mirrored that of the Ravens defense on the whole. Much like the rest of the defense, Smith bounced back in the second half of the year. Thanks to Hamilton’s shift back to safety in Week 11, Smith earned an 81.8 PFF coverage grade the rest of the way. PFF‘s Mason Cameron points out that from that point on, Smith “ranked fourth at the position — much closer to his usual level of play.”
