The Baltimore Ravens have gotten younger in recent years, leading to what I’ve called a golden age. Good drafting, some tough decisions in free agency and a little luck have given Baltimore a roster chock full of impressive young talent — many expected to make a major impact in 2019.
When looking over the roster, I found a surprising number of players who have yet to see a Pro Bowl first hand. With this season being a big one, I picked out seven players who could find their way to their first Pro Bowl in 2019.
CB, Marlon Humphrey
Humphrey is one of the best young cornerbacks in this league, bar none. He’s on the verge of being one of the few true shutdown cornerbacks in the NFL, something he’ll have a chance to earn this season. With serious breakout potential and his notoriety rising among fans, Humphrey could make his third season his first Pro Bowl.
T, Orlando Brown Jr.
I still contend Brown should have been starting from Week 1 last season. With an injury to then-starter James Hurst, Brown took over the job and never looked back, proving he’s the man for the job. Now pretty well inked in at right tackle this season and having a full offseason under his belt, I expect Brown to dramatically improve in his second year.
Brown allowed just 16 pressures on 369 passing plays last season, for a paltry 4.34% pressure rate. Brown’s 16 pressures allowed was the third-fewest allowed among tackles with at least 595 total snaps.
With those numbers and a few pancakes along the way, it’s actually a little surprising he didn’t find himself as a Pro Bowl alternate last year. If he can do the same thing as a starter for all 16 games this year, he should be in the thick of the voting.
TE, Mark Andrews
In this era of football, tight ends receive the most praise if they put up big receiving numbers. While blocking tight ends still have quite a bit of respect in the NFL, they don’t tend to find themselves in the Pro Bowl very often. Which is why I think, out of all the tight ends capable of earning a Pro Bowl, Andrews is the one with the best chances.
As a rookie, Andrews made some big plays. His 34 receptions for 552 yards and three touchdowns was pretty impressive in an offense that didn’t really throw the ball very much in the second half of the season. But Andrews earned the trust of quarterback Lamar Jackson quickly and further developed chemistry together as the season wore on.
Now in his second season, Andrews should improve upon last year’s numbers. A stat sheet that approaches 1,000 receiving yards isn’t out of the realm of possibility, which should put Andrews on the fast track to his first Pro Bowl.
CB, Jimmy Smith
Smith has been one of the most underrated cornerbacks in the league. You’re probably shocked he hasn’t made the Pro Bowl at least once in his eight-year career. Sadly, due to injuries and suspensions, Smith hasn’t had a ton of opportunities.
Smith was on track in 2017, having an absolutely killer year before tearing his Achilles late in the season. While 2018 was a down year for Smith, the hope is he’ll be fully healthy and back to form more than 18 months after the Achilles injury. If that ends up happening, there’s no reason why Smith should be snubbed yet again.
T, Ronnie Stanley
The Ravens picked up Stanley’s fifth-year option at a pretty hefty cost because he’s one of the better young left tackles in the NFL.
While Brown tends to get a little more attention here in Baltimore as a rising star, Stanley actually outperformed him by a wide margin last year. Stanley finished the 2018 season with 17 pressures, one more than Brown. However, he did it on 208 more pass-blocking snaps, giving him a better pressure rate of 2.9%.
Stanley will have to improve as a run blocker to fully become one of the best tackles in the game but he’s well on his way. With a run-heavy offense brewing in Baltimore, Stanley will have plenty of opportunities to prove his worth there. As it stands, Stanley should already be in the conversation for a Pro Bowl but a little improvement as a run blocker will likely put him there.
OLB, Matthew Judon
After the departures of Terrell Suggs and Za’Darius Smith, Judon is now the de facto leader of the Ravens’ pass rush. Entering his fourth season, Judon is one of the players most likely to break out in 2019. He’ll be given more snaps and likely more opportunities to increase his sack numbers — perhaps his best chance at making the Pro Bowl.
Judon will have to hit at least double-digit sacks this season to have a shot. But with 15 combined sacks over the last two years, he’s been on the cusp of that for a while now. With a bigger role this season, this will be Judon’s best opportunity to hit the milestone. If Judon can reach double-digit sacks and continue to improve as a run defender, he’ll have a real shot at making the 2020 Pro Bowl.
LB, Patrick Onwuasor
I don’t think there’s a player on Baltimore’s roster with a better opportunity than Onwuasor. Stepping in for C.J. Mosley, who departed for the New York Jets in free agency this offseason, Onwuasor is jumping into a starting job that has typically churned out Pro Bowls nearly every year.
Onwuasor really stepped up his game last year as a rush and coverage linebacker, while 2017 saw him post up a great season in run defense. If Onwuasor can combine the best of his last two seasons, he should be able to continue the Ravens’ legacy at inside linebacker with a Pro Bowl.
