The Baltimore Ravens wrapped up a fantastic regular season, and are now on to receiving accolades. The NFL Players Association recently released their second-annual All-Pro Team, and it included a few familiar faces. Three Ravens made the 2023 NFLPA All-Pro Team- quarterback Lamar Jackson, safety Kyle Hamilton. and linebacker Roquan Smith. Along with those three, four other Ravens will be playing in the Pro Bowl: linebacker Patrick Queen, defensive tackle Justin Madubuike, center Tyler Linderbaum, and kicker Justin Tucker.
The Ravens have clinched the top spot in the AFC North and look to build upon that success. Baltimore ended the regular season winning six out of seven games and looks like the best team in the NFL heading into the playoffs. The Ravens lost the last game of the season to the worst possible opponent, division rival Pittsburgh Steelers. Fortunately for the Steelers, the Week 18 win against the Ravens clinched a playoff spot for the struggling team. The Ravens never want to lose to the Steelers, especially with playoff implications pending. Notably, Baltimore has already clinched a playoff berth so they sat most of their key players for the matchup.
3 Ravens Rewarded with NFLPA All-Pro Team Selections
The Baltimore Ravens just had an amazing season that would make any fan excited for the playoffs. The Ravens finished the season with the best record in the NFL (13-4), and in turn, can be considered the best team in the NFL. Naturally, a team that posts 13 wins has several standout players that help the team’s success. In this case, the Ravens have three players that are being recognized as the league’s best.
Quarterback: Lamar Jackson
Quarterback Lamar Jackson has been selected by his peers as the best in the NFL. The consistency that Jackson showed this year is a big reason why. Statistics never tell the whole story, although many try to measure Jackson’s success in numbers. Jackson leads the race for NFL MVP and has had one of his best seasons. The quarterback has been a steady force for the offense, and his usual highlight-reel play has been on display all year.
Off-Ball Linebacker: Roquan Smith
Linebacker Roquan Smith had another great year, per usual. Once Smith came to Baltimore, he was instantly the emotional leader of the team. This is Smith’s first full year with the team, and he is being elected to the Pro Bowl while making the NFLPA All-Pro team. Smith is the anchor of the Raven’s defense and has earned the respect of his peers as well as former franchise players. Smith is an ironman who barely misses a snap, let alone a game- and will be a staple of Baltimore for a long time.
Strong Safety: Kyle Hamilton
Second-year safety Kyle Hamilton made a huge splash in the league this season. There were several dominant safeties this year, but Hamilton got the vote. One of the greatest things about Hamilton is his versatility; he lines up in the box just as much as he lines up in coverage. Hamilton is big, smart, and physical. Although he’s young, Hamilton shows veteran savvy. As Hamilton is already being voted an All-Pro by his peers, he’s sure to be an important piece to Baltimore’s future.
Main Photo: Tommy Gilligan – USA Today Sports
