The premiere of NFL Network’s Top 100 players list aired August 14 and only one player from the Baltimore Ravens was revealed. For the first time in his illustrious career, future Hall of Famer Justin Tucker made the list, which is voted on by players.
The fact that he appeared on the annual list for only the first time — despite being the gold standard at his position for over a decade — is inconceivable, unfathomable, mind-boggling and long overdue.
“He deserves it.. How has he not made it before??”
@jtuck9 finally gets his flowers❗️
Tune into #NFLTop100 on @nflnetwork
Tucker, a five-time Pro Bowler, added to his gold jacket-worthy resume with a phenomenal 2021 season. He led the league in field goal percentage (94.6), was perfect on extra points and kicks of 50 or more yards (6-of-6) and broke the record for the longest field goal in league history.
.@jtuck9‘s NFL-record 66-yard field goal was @Bridgestone‘s NFL moment of the year!
Who’s Next and Who’s Left?
Given that many of Baltimore’s most notable players missed all or most of 2021, there likely aren’t many more Ravens left to be revealed on the list. Even the ones who were left standing or didn’t get injured until later in the season had down years.
Take, Marlon Humphrey, who was on the Top 100 list in 2020 and 2021, who had one of his most uneven seasons to date. He started only 12 games, had his lowest number of tackles since becoming a full-time starter in 2019, had only one forced fumble (down from eight in 2021) and no tackles for loss. But Humphrey was forced to play without fellow All-Pro cornerback Marcus Peters, who tore an ACL before the start of the season.
Nevertheless, at least two of Tucker’s teammates should be joining him when the rest of the list is revealed.
Tight end Mark Andrews, who earned First Team All-Pro after leading all tight ends in receiving yards and catches and tying with three others for most touchdowns, could be in the top 30.
And as one of the league’s best quarterbacks, Lamar Jackson also figures to be high on the list. Jackson missed the final four games of the year with an ankle injury but was viewed as a front-runner to win league MVP at one point.
Trio of Former Ravens Revealed
Three of Tucker’s former teammates were revealed the list’s premiere night. San Francisco 49ers fullback Kyle Juszczyk was the first player revealed, at No. 100; Las Vegas Raiders tight end Darren Waller came in at No. 58; and New England Patriots outside linebacker Matt Judon was the second to last player revealed of the night, at No. 52.
Before he went on to get voted to five straight Pro Bowls with the 49ers, Juszczyk earned his first nod with the Ravens in 2016. Baltimore drafted the nine-year veteran out of Harvard in 2013 in the fourth round.
JUUUUICE 🧃
The offensive weapon is back in the #NFLTop100 for a 2nd consecutive year. @JuiceCheck44
📺: NFL Top 100, #100 – #51 — on @nflnetwork
Waller was originally drafted by the Ravens in the sixth round in 2015 out of Georgia Tech as a wide receiver before converting to tight end in his second season in the league. Since overcoming substance abuse issues that nearly cost him his career, he has blossomed into one of the NFL’s most complete tight ends.
For the third year in a row, @Rackkwall83 lands on the #NFLTop100 list.
📺: @nflnetwork
Judon, drafted by the Ravens in the fifth round in 2016, departed in free agency last offseason after spending his first five years in the league in Baltimore. He earned his third straight Pro Bowl nod and recorded the first double-digit sack season of his career with the Patriots in 2021.
Comments
Justin Tucker First Raven Revealed on NFL Top 100 List for 2022