The best draft class of 2020 belongs to the Baltimore Ravens. One of the best-run franchises developed this class into several defensive starters and Pro Bowlers.
Patrick Queen had a rough first two seasons in the NFL, but started putting it together in 2022, and the arrival of All-Pro Roquan Smith turned Queen into a Pro Bowler and second-team All-Pro last season. With his fifth-year option declined, Queen will be a free agent and could have a decent market. A player who has played in every game and started every game in his career and is still only 24 years old, Queen has much more room to grow and we’ve only seen the beginning.
J.K. Dobbins’ career is an unfortunate combination of exciting and disappointing. He shined as a rookie with 805 rushing yards and nine touchdowns and was lined up for a breakout second season, but a preseason torn ACL never made it happen. He returned as the starter in 2022 despite missing the first two games. He was fine through four games before another knee injury cost him six games. His last five, including playoffs, were very good with two 100-yard games, and finally looked like the player we all thought. But unfortunately the injury bug struck again as he tore his Achilles in Week 1 of last year, ending his season.
The true breakout star of this class is Justin Madubuike. A solid player his first three seasons, getting more and more playing time and producing, but 2023 was an incredible year. Started all 17 games, set career highs in tackles (56) and led all defensive tackles in sacks (13.0). He was named to his Pro Bowl and named second-team All-Pro. He received the franchise tag and just signed a massive four-year extension that made him the third-highest-paid DT behind Chris Jones and Aaron Donald.
Devin Duvernay has been one of the best return specialists during his career, and has been a solid depth contributor on offense as well. He had 407 receiving yards in 2022, and was Pro Bowl returner in ’21 and ’22, and that was his main role last year as the team loaded up on pass catchers.
Malik Harrison has been a solid third linebacker for the Ravens, playing around 25% of snaps with 27 starts in four seasons playing behind Smith and Queen.
Tyre Phillips spent two years with the team as a starter and backup. He was the starting right guard as a rookie but dealt with a lot of injuries and only started eight games. He entered the 2021 season as the starting left guard but was injured Week 1, but came back later in the year to start four games as right tackle. He was released before the 2022 season and joined the Giants for the year and started four games. After a stint with the Eagles, he rejoined the Giants and started nine games at right tackle.
Ben Bredeson spent one season with the team as a backup before getting traded to the Giants before the 2021 season. He was named the starting left guard in 2022 before a midseason injury, and again last year before moving to center, then right guard.
Broderick Washington has been a rotational defensive tackle his four years, playing around 40% of snaps and earned a contract extension before last season.
James Proche has mainly been a special teamer and served as a kick returner for three years before his 2023 release, he then joined the Browns.
Geno Stone has turned into a quiet stud in the secondary, even though he hasn’t been a full-time starter. After spending much of his rookie year on the practice squad, he was cut at the end of the year and joined the Texans, but was re-signed by the team during free agency. He took over as a starter late in the next season due to injuries, and his playing time only increased from there. He led all safeties with seven interceptions last year.
Undrafted QB Tyler Huntley has been a poor man’s Lamar Jackson and has been a solid backup for four years, starting nine games and going 3-6.
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