Ravens Insider: Three Ravens named to All-Pro teams

[ExtremeRavens]

Despite a collective down year, three Ravens were acknowledged for their individual performances by a national panel of 50 media members.

Safety Kyle Hamilton and punter Jordan Stout were both named to the Associated Press’ NFL All-Pro first team. Fullback Patrick Ricard was named to the second team.

This is Hamilton’s second All-Pro recognition. He was a vital organ in the Ravens’ defense, roving around most of the field. Hamilton took snaps at free safety (162), in the box as a pseudo linebacker (355), on the defensive line (164), at slot corner (298) and wide corner (24). He’s the most versatile chess piece on Baltimore’s defense and perhaps across the league. The 24-year-old who became the highest-paid safety in the NFL last offseason started all 16 games, forced two fumbles and registered a sack.

Earlier this fall, Hamilton was asked what position he plays. He took a moment to answer.

“Safety,” he said. “I would say safety. I was drafted as a safety. It says safety on the roster, probably. Safety.”

Stout plays a more singular position. This year, he set himself up for a nice payday having earned his first Pro Bowl selection, first All-Pro honor and tying the franchise record with a 74-yard punt.

Stout finished first in the NFL in net average punt yards (44.9) and accounted for the third-longest boot of the year. He placed 24 attempts inside the 20-yard line and consistently set up opposing offenses in disadvantageous field position.

“I just feel like it’s all clicking,” Stout said, earlier this year. “I feel like I’m in a flow state. I’m not worried out there. I just go out there and do it, and I walk off the field.”

Ricard was named an All-Pro despite missing the first six games of the year recovering from a calf injury. He paved the way for one of the NFL’s most productive rushing attacks. At the team’s locker room clean out, the 25-year-old showed immense gratitude for former Ravens coach John Harbaugh.

“He’s a big reason why I’m here,” Ricard said. “He’s a big reason why I even had a chance to play fullback. I was an undrafted defensive lineman out of Maine, and he could have just looked at me as that, but he saw something in me and gave me the opportunity to make this team.”

Ricard is a free agent this offseason. If it were up to him, he said he’d love to stay in Baltimore and eventually retire as a Raven.

Baltimore’s three All-Pro players is half the number of Ravens honored had last year, when four made first-team and two were on second-team.

This year, Los Angeles’ Matthew Stafford and New England’s Drake Maye filled the two All-Pro quarterback spots. Lamar Jackson was not an All-Pro after being recognized each of the last two seasons. Falcons running back Bijan Robinson and Bills running back James Cook edged out Derrick Henry in the backfield. 

Have a news tip? Contact Sam Cohn at scohn@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/samdcohn.x.com.

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