The Baltimore Ravens are known for their dominant defenses and incredible players. Baltimore has sent three players to Canton, Ohio’s Pro Football Hall of Fame. Jonathan Ogden, Ray Lewis, and Ed Reed have represented the Ravens with busts. Three more players, Terrell Suggs, Marshal Yanda, and Justin Tucker, will join them shortly. A fourth player could get there first if the cards fall in his favor. A player who was a standout on those defenses in the mid to late 2000s into the early 2010s. Defensive lineman Haloti Ngata enters his first year of eligibility in 2024.
The Case for Ngata
The Ravens and general manager Ozzie Newsome drafted Ngata in 2006 in a trade with the Cleveland Browns. In a defense loaded with stars such as Lewis, Reed, Suggs, and Chris McAlister. Ngata would cement himself as one of them. From 2006-2011, Ngata played in 94 games, starting 92. He amassed 210 solo tackles, 17 sacks, 4 forced fumbles, and 5 fumble recoveries. He even notched 3 of his 5 career interceptions during that span.
Haloti Ngata was a ball hawk in a big man’s body. @Haloti_Ngata92 pic.twitter.com/wXb6b02NOU
— NFL Legacy (@NFLLegacy) August 3, 2020
However, from 2008-2011, Ngata hit his prime as the best defensive lineman in the game. Making three consecutive Pro Bowls from 2009-2011 and notching two first team All-Pros in 2010 and 2011. In 2010, he was sixth in the Defensive Player of the Year voting, ahead of teammate Ed Reed, who placed at seventh. From that period of time, there wasn’t a single defensive lineman as dominant as Ngata. There weren’t many defensive players as dominant as him in general.
Need a big play on defense? Ngata problem. @Haloti_Ngata92 pic.twitter.com/q45lDMUgob
— NFL Legacy (@NFLLegacy) August 18, 2021
The Ravens’ rivalry with the Pittsburgh Steelers was also at its peak around this time, and Ngata was front and center. Like when he smashed running back Rashard Mendenhall during the 2011 home opener, where Baltimore dominated. Of course, who could forget when he broke quarterback Ben Roethlisberger’s nose during a 2010 Sunday Night Football matchup? His big paws are all over this rivalry. 2006-2011, and the prime years of 2008-2011, was a golden time for Ngata. Unfortunately, the remainder of his career would see things differently for the big man.
The Case Against Ngata
While the Ravens would take home their second Super Bowl title in 2012, and Ngata did make another Pro Bowl, that season would see the once-dominant lineman regress. His 51 tackles were the lowest since he notched 35 in 2009. 2013 would see him make his final Pro Bowl. However, he recorded only 1.5 sacks that season—his lowest since 2009. Prime Ngata was gone by the time 2014 rolled around, and it was clear he was regressing. That year would be his final year in Baltimore and his worst year as a Raven. He only recorded 2.0 sacks and 32 solo tackles. That wouldn’t be the worst of it. While the Ravens were making a push for the playoffs, Ngata would miss the last four games due to a PED suspension.
After the season, Ngata was traded to the Detroit Lions for a 2015 4th-round pick. Things wouldn’t get any better for Ngata in Detroit as his numbers continued to decline, and he battled injuries such as a torn bicep in 2017. 2018 Ngata signed a one-year deal with the Philadelphia Eagles and would retire the following year.
Is His Resume Enough?
Ngata is a member of the Ravens Ring of Honor and was a good player overall. He was, without a doubt, the best defensive lineman in the game for a good period. His five Pro Bowls and Super Bowl ring are also perfect for the resume. However, he never won a Defensive Player of the Year award. Lewis (he did it twice), Reed, and Suggs each have an award to their name. His later years from 2012-2017 were also mired in struggles, injuries, and a suspension in 2014.
The voters must determine if his resume is enough to get in. For all we know, he’s the Raven’s version of Joe Klecko. It could take some time. He’s certainly in the class of Ravens players such as Jamal Lewis, Joe Flacco, Matt Stover, Edwin Mulitalo, Todd Heap, Peter Boulware, Derrick Mason, and McAlister—Guys who had pretty good careers overall, but just not enough for Canton. We’ll soon see as Ngata enters his first year as a candidate.
Main Photo: Akron Beacon Journal from USA TODAY
