4 Ravens players land on CBS Sports’ Top-100 free agents list

There are a handful of players from the 2020 Ravens roster set to his free agency this month. Some of them will be valued around the NFL more than others, which will certainly play a role in determining which guys Baltimore can bring back.

Pete Prisco of CBS Sports compiled a list of the Top-100 free agents on the market this offseason and four Ravens made an appearance: Matthew Judon (33), Yannick Ngaouke (39) Matt Skura (63), and Tyus Bowser (95) — in that order.

Judon was listed by Prisco at No. 33 on the list, which is the highest of the four players above. This make sense but perhaps is a bit surprising given Judon isn’t always a highly recognized name in national circles, and less so in comparison to someone like Ngaouke much of the time.

Ngaouke is not far behind. Prisco slotted him six spots lower as the 39th best free agent in these rankings.

“He’s [Ngaouke] a solid edge player, but he played just 41 snaps in two playoff games. That’s concerning. He also isn’t a great run player.” Prisco said.

This is an interesting perspective and one that a lot of people have as it pertains to Ngaouke’s future with the Ravens. His pass-rushing ability is well-documented but there’s some limitations to his game in terms of being an all-around edge player. In the eyes of many, his 2020 tenure in Baltimore wound up being more on the underwhelming side.

It will be interesting to see how the Ravens navigate Ngaouke’s value after trading draft capital to acquire him. Either way, having him listed at No. 39 and slightly lower than Judon feels like a fair estimation, all things considered.

Perhaps a bigger surprise, though, is seeing Matt Skura in the rankings at No. 63. Prisco had this to say about Skura:

“He was a reliable center for the Ravens for a few seasons, but then had trouble with the shotgun snaps last year and was benched. For teams looking for a new center, he would make sense if he’s past those issues.”

It’s true that Skura has been solid at times during his Ravens tenure, but it’s fair to question his ranking in these free agent rankings. Skura’s stock is definitely on the decline after a poor 2020 campaign. Prisco does point out that Skura could make sense for center-needy teams IF he’s put his issues snapping the football behind him.

Of course, this is a big “if” and one that has to be factored in to his market value.

The last Ravens player on Prisco’s list is the third outside linebacker of the team’s free agent trio — Tyus Bowser. Prisco ranks Bowser all the way down as the 95th-best player on the free agent market, noting that he, “is coming off an impressive season as a reserve, which could lead to a starting job and decent contract.”

It’s difficult to argue this point, but it is easy to say perhaps Bowser should be higher on the list. Compared to Judon and Ngaouke, Bowser certainly doesn’t have the resume or pedigree. However, based on potential and upside, the existing gap between the 90s and 30s on Prisco’s list should perhaps be more narrow.

Prisco is right in saying that Bowser had an impressive 2020 season in a reserve role, as he also did in 2019 — albeit maybe to a lesser extent.

What do you think of Prisco’s take on Judon, Ngaouke, Skura, and Bowser? Do you agree that they are in fact some of the 100-best free agents on the market? Share your thoughts below and chime in with any players you feel are submissions, too.

You can see the full article and list here.