Baltimore Ravens stars Roquan Smith, Lamar Jackson, and Mark Andrews were all listed in Last Word On Sports’s top-50 NFL players list for 2023.
The list series, written by Mike Kashuba and voted on by Last Word On Sports’s pro football writers, recently concluded with the announcement of the top 10 NFL players for 2023.
3 Ravens in Last Word On Pro Football’s Top-50 NFL Players 2023 List
Mark Andrews (49)
In the 50-41 section, Andrews snuck onto the list ranked at 49. He placed one spot ahead of Pat Surtain II, but one behind Tony Pollard. He was one of three tight ends that made the list, with George Kittle coming in at 24 and Travis Kelce cracking the top 10.
Some fans might think 49 is a bit high for Andrews, given that the All-Pro tight end was only ranked 80th on the NFL Top 100 recently. However, there is a good justification for Andrews’ place in the top 50. On the ranking, Kashuba had this to say:
“Whether it’s dynasty fantasy football or real-life, Mark Andrews is one of the most important tight ends in the league. Andrews has either led the team in total yards or yards per game going back four seasons. At only 27 years old, he won’t slow down any time soon.”
The star tight end certainly deserved a place on the list despite a down year last season. In 2022, Andrews managed 847 yards and five touchdowns in 15 games. While those are still top numbers for a tight end, he managed a whopping 1,361 yards and nine touchdowns in 2021.
In 2023, Andrews remains Baltimore’s top receiver. With Todd Monken at the helm, the hope is that Baltimore’s passing game will be reinvented for the better. Should that happen, Andrews would be a huge beneficiary.
Don’t forget about Mark Andrews in a more pass heavy offense!
Andrews current O/U is 800.5 receiving yards on FanDuel. Andrews has eclipsed that in each of the last two seasons and three of the last four.
HAMMER the over. pic.twitter.com/xpLma9d1RZ
— Spencer Schultz (@ravens4dummies) August 3, 2023
Lamar Jackson (31)
Jackson appeared on the list in the 40-31 segment, coming in at number 31. That is also a marked improvement from his outrageous 72 ranking on the NFL Top 100.
In the NFL 100, Jackson ranks below the likes of Geno Smith and Jared Goff. However, Last Word On Pro Football’s list has Jackson as the sixth best quarterback. He is, however, one spot below Justin Fields, which is nothing short of controversial.
Kashuba shared his insights on Jackson’s ranking at 31:
“The former MVP has a big new contract, new weapons on offense, and an offensive coordinator ready to run a scorched earth campaign on the AFC North. His rushing upside unlocks play designs that most players can only run in Madden. Jackson will be closer to the top ten than to this position after this season.”
2023 promises big things for Jackson, like Kashuba has noted. This is so much the case that he made the ambitious proclamation that he wants to throw for a whopping “6,000 yards” this year. Jackson is also an MVP frontrunner for 2023.
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Roquan Smith (28)
Smith is Baltimore’s top ranked player in the Last Word On Sports ranking just three spots ahead of his quarterback. Smith snuck into the 30-21 portion of the series, coming in at 28.
It will be no surprise to Ravens fans that Smith is the top ranked off-ball linebacker according to Last Word On Sports writers. At 28, the Ravens star ranks between Davante Adams (29) and Jonathan Taylor (27).
Kashuba sums up Smith’s impact for Baltimore effectively:
“The third-leading tackler in the NFL in 2022, Smith is a difference-maker at the inside linebacker position. As the Ravens prepare for a bounceback season Smith will be a key cog in their defense.”
After Smith’s trade from the Chicago Bears to Baltimore, the Ravens defense looked immovable. A large part of that was down to Baltimore having the NFL’s “best linebacker duo” in the form of Smith and Patrick Queen. Stopping the run became a strength, as did defending intermediate passes.
With Chuck Clark gone, Smith is expected to take the green dot. While it is a big responsibility, his leadership and football IQ make him an excellent candidate. Expect Smith to be even more crucial to Baltimore’s defense this year as they look to become the NFL’s top defensive unit.
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Notable Ravens Missing from Last Word On Pro Football’s Top 50 NFL Players List for 2023
Justin Tucker
Justin Tucker’s omission from the list could come down to the position he plays. Kickers often do not get enough credit and Tucker is no exception to the rule.
Perhaps more importantly, however, Tucker had a down year in 2022 (relative to his gold standard). While he was still very effective, it was a notable dip from his 2021 season.
Despite that, Tucker remains the league’s best kicker. He has kept Baltimore in many games when they struggled in the redzone. His clutch, long-distance kicking has also been crucial in winning tight games too. No kicker is more clutch than Tucker, Baltimore’s all-time leading scorer.
Marlon Humphrey
This year, Marlon Humphrey ranked at 92 in the NFL Top 100. As such, his omission from Last Word On Sports’s list is perhaps unsurprising.
However, there is a case to be made that Humphrey is severely underrated. The Pro Bowl cornerback is quietly one of the league’s best shutdown corners currently. In 2022, Humphrey made three interceptions and posted an impressive 76.7 PFF grade.
There is no doubt that part of the reason that the Ravens defense is so successful is because Humphrey can comfortably line up against elite wideouts on a weekly basis.
"Honestly, I might be annoying. I make a lot of noises." 😂@marlon_humphrey was voted No. 92 on the countdown by his peers.
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— NFL (@NFL) July 25, 2023
Main Photo: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
