The Baltimore Ravens enter the 2026 season with legitimate championship aspirations, and ESPN's latest player rankings help explain why. In its recently released 2026 NFL Rank: Predicting the top 100 players for this season, the 'worldwide leader in sports' placed five members of The Flock among the league's elite.
The list recognizes established stars, proven production, and projected impact entering the upcoming campaign. Baltimore's representatives range from future Hall of Famers to players entering their prime, highlighting the blend of veteran leadership and star power that has kept the Ravens among the AFC's contenders.
Trey Hendrickson (No. 87)
The Ravens did nothand Trey Hendrickson a lucrative free-agent contractto improve their depth. They signed him to help
solve a problem that has lingered for quite some time.
As ESPN's top Ravens voice, Jamison Hensley, notes, Hendrickson's ability to finish games is one of his most valuable traits. His 33 sacks in the fourth quarter and overtime lead the NFL since 2019. That reinforces Baltimore's belief that he can become the type of closer the defense has lacked since Terrell Suggs patrolled the edge.
Hendrickson is looking to rebound from an injury-shortened 2025 season. Meanwhile, his 61 sacks over the previous five years remain the fourth-most in the NFL during that span.
Roquan Smith (No. 80)
By his standards, 2025 was a quieter season. By almost anyone else's standards, it was still highly productive. Smith has recorded 1,134 tackles since entering the league in 2018, the second-most in the NFL over that period.
Even after failing to register a sack or interception last season, ESPN still views him as one of football's premier linebackers. The Ravens appear confident that a motivated Smith is prepared to remind people why he has been one of the league's most complete defenders for nearly a decade.
Derrick Henry (No. 72)
The NFL continues waiting for Derrick Henry to slow down. The problem is that Henry keeps refusing to cooperate. His 3,516 rushing yards during his first two seasons in Baltimore lead the league over that span, and he enters 2026 with an opportunity to climb even higher on the NFL's all-time rushing list.
Hensley noted that Henry needs 1,084 yards to move past several Hall of Fame running backs and rise to sixth all-time. Few runners in league history have combined longevity and dominance the way Henry has. His five seasons of at least 1,500 rushing yards are tied with Barry Sanders for the most in NFL history.
Kyle Hamilton (No. 17)
There may not be a more unique defender in football. Hamilton's versatility allows Baltimore to deploy him almost anywhere on the field, and ESPN believes that flexibility could eventually place him in Defensive Player of the Year conversations.
Last season, Hamilton logged at least 30 snaps at five different positions. Few defenders can claim that type of responsibility. Even fewer can handle it at a high level. The impact is evident in the numbers. Opposing quarterbacks have posted a significantly lower QBR when Hamilton is on the field, underscoring his value to one of the NFL's premier defenses.
Lamar Jackson (No. 3)
At this point, appearing near the top of lists like these has become routine for Lamar Jackson. The two-time MVP enters another season with sky-high expectations, this time working alongside first-year offensive coordinator Declan Doyle. As Hensley notes, Jackson's history of thriving during offensive transitions is impeccable. He has previously won two MVP awards, each following a change in coordinator.
If that trend continues, Baltimore's offense could once again rank among the league's most dangerous units. Jackson enters the season ranked behind only two players on ESPN's list, further cementing his status as one of the NFL's premier talents. Considering his track record, the Ravens will gladly accept those expectations.
Five players on ESPN's top-100 list is impressive on its own. More importantly for Baltimore, each occupies a position capable of changing games. From Jackson's playmaking ability to Hamilton's versatility, Henry's power, Smith's leadership, and Hendrickson's pass-rush presence, the Ravens possess star power across the roster. That combination is a major reason expectations remain as high as ever heading into the 2026 season.
This article originally appeared on Ravens Wire: Five Ravens land on ESPN’s top 100 players ranking for 2026
