The Baltimore Ravens have 12 players on the Pro Bowl roster and with most of them still under contract, they could be building a dynasty
The Baltimore Ravens are having a storybook season. Though it hasn’t ended quite yet and the hope is it doesn’t until in February with players hoisting the Lombardi Trophy, there’s plenty of reason to be even more excited about the future.
The NFL released the 2020 Pro Bowl roster and the AFC might as well just be the Ravens. Baltimore had 12 players named to the Pro Bowl with two more as alternatives, tying the previous record for most players on an initial Pro Bowl roster. With a bright future thanks to the young and cheap Pro Bowl talent on the roster, I can’t help but think a dynasty is just being born in front of our eyes.
Of the 12 Ravens selected to the Pro Bowl, 10 are under contract through 2020, with 7 signed for longer and four still under their rookie contracts for at least next season. Only cornerback Marcus Peters and outside linebacker Matthew Judon are set to hit free agency this offseason. But with plenty of cap space expected, both players are going to be high priorities and likely to re-sign as long as another team doesn’t offer well above market value for them.
Having 12 players on a Pro Bowl roster is nothing shy of impressive and a testament to the work general manager Eric DeCosta and former general manager Ozzie Newsome have done. But to think all 12 could realistically return for next season and potentially beyond is even crazier. And with the aforementioned bevy of cap space expected for at least 2020, there’s no reason to think Baltimore can’t further patch up any remaining holes on their roster with more Pro Bowl talent, not to speak of young players who will step up as well.
Going into this season, the big takeaway was just how young the Ravens’ roster was. They had jettisoned older players in favor of their younger counterparts while investing heavily through the draft in order to build a sustainable and cheap roster for the next few years. They’ve doubled down on at least the 2020 NFL draft, letting key free agents leave in order to pick up early compensatory picks as well as a few trades of lackluster depth players. Baltimore could realistically have nine picks in the 2020 NFL draft to further stock their roster with young and cheap talent.
The hope was this season would be a stepping stone to a really great 2020 as young players ascended and the Ravens continued to plug holes in free agency. But with Baltimore currently at 12-2, holding the No. 1 seed in the AFC with the No. 1 scoring offense and the fourth fewest points allowed on defense, they’re the favorites to win Super Bowl LIV, far surpassing any reasonable expectations for the season.
With an eye towards the future, the Ravens seriously look like a dynasty just beginning to form. They have the MVP frontrunner at quarterback, a dynamic offensive scheme, young talent at wide receiver and tight end, enough top cornerbacks to shut down both passing attacks and young pass rushers just starting to hit their stride. Top it off with a legitimate Coach of the Year candidate in John Harbaugh and the league’s best front office and you have the recipe for continued success.
With a roster now stacked with legitimate Pro Bowl talent, on cheap deals for at least next season and the team holding enough cap space to still pick up top free agents, the Ravens should be favorites for Super Bowl LV next season. And as long as everyone plays up to how they’ve done this year, Baltimore could be at the very start of a dynasty.
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