Three Ravens made the 2020 All-Under-25 Team
Last week NFL.com’s Marc Sessler released a roster he created comprised of players under the age of 25 heading into the 2020 season. Only players that are still going to be under 25 by the time the season officially kicks off on September 10th were eligible for the list. Three Baltimore Ravens made the cut and one surprising yet understandable snub was left off.
CB Marlon Humphrey:
“Today’s NFL is stocked with difference-making corners as teams regularly roll out a fifth and sixth defensive back to counter exploding air attacks. Denzel Ward, Jaire Alexander, and Adoree’ Jackson are candidates for this list, but I’m sticking with Humphrey. Packed into a deep Ravens secondary, the 2017 first-rounder has logged 47 forced incompletions — fourth league-wide — over his first three seasons.”
The first-round pick out of Alabama in 2017 got his first Pro Bowl nod and was voted first-team All-Pro in his breakout season. He was by far the most consistent and dominant player on the defense last season and the other half of arguably the best cornerback tandem in the league with Marcus Peters who also made the first team All-Pro list in 2019 after being traded to the Ravens.
TE Mark Andrews:
“Andrews tore off the doors last season with 16 catches for 220 yards and two scores during Baltimore’s raucous 2-0 start to the year. His 64/852/10 line topped Ravens skill players across the board, as Andrews served as Lamar Jackson’s favorite weapon when Baltimore’s backfield wasn’t blasting front sevens into the dirt. From another angle: Andrews was explosive enough to allow the Ravens to trade away first-round tight end Hayden Hurst.”
It’s nice to see that Andrews wasn’t left off this list like he was by Sessler’s NFL.com colleague and renowned draft analyst Bucky Brooks when he comprised a list of the top five tight ends in the league and left the 2019 breakout star off of it. Andrews’ stellar play last season made Hurst an expendable asset that they turned into the pick they used to select Ohio State running back JK Dobbins in the second round who they had a late first-round grade on.
OT Orlando Brown Jr:
“Speaking of last year’s Ravens, Brown started 16 games on the right side for Baltimore and finished as football’s 10th-best pass-blocking tackle, per PFF. His run-blocking could use a boost, but the Ravens have no questions about whether Brown belongs.”
Zues Jr, Baby Zeus, (not so) Lil Zeus, or whatever nickname he might go by, has honored his late father’s memory with his play on the field and with the way he carries himself off of it (in 2019 he was the media “Good Guy” Award recipient). He’s been rock solid on the right side of the Ravens’ offensive line since he seized the starting role as a rookie and is part of arguably the best bookend tackle duo in the league with first-team All-Pro Ronnie Stanley manning the blindside. Brown also made the Pro Bowl last year as a first alternate.
The most shocking name left off the list is reigning league MVP Lamar Jackson but that’s because Patrick Mahomes, the reigning Superbowl MVP, just made the age cut off since he doesn’t turn 25 until exactly a week after he and the defending champion Kansas City Chiefs face off with the Houston Texans in the season opener.
The Ravens have surrounded their electrifying franchise quarterback with some young promising talent at the skill positions in recent years and loaded up with young talent on defense as well so don’t be surprised if the number of Ravens on the list doubles next year.
Jackson will be a virtual lock at the quarterback spot next year since he doesn’t turn 25 until January 7th, 2022. Another player to keep an eye on is second-year receiver Marquise ‘Hollywood’ Brown who is poised for a breakout sophomore season now that he is fully healthy and will be able to showcase the full extent of his game-breaking speed and play-making ability after being a little hampered by injuries in his rookie year.
