Home grown breakout stars headline the group.
The ballots have been tallied and the results are in for the 2023 Pro Bowl rosters that were officially revealed on Wednesday night. For the third time in the past four years, the Baltimore Ravens had seven players make the initial all-star games roster. Soon to be two-time league MVP Lamar Jackson highlights the group that includes six home grown talents and four first time honorees.
Your Ravens Pro Bowlers❗ pic.twitter.com/K1g9hOcebw
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) January 4, 2024
The first timers include fourth-year pros Patrick Queen and Justin Madubuike as well as second-year pros Kyle Hamilton and Tyler Linderbaum. The other two repeat honorees are kicker Justin Tucker for the seventh time in his illustrious career and inside linebacker Roquan Smith for the second straight year since joining the team midway through last season.
Perhaps the only person that deserves nearly as much credit as the players themselves for making the cut is the person responsible for bringing them all together. Ravens General Manager Eric DeCosta selected Hamilton and Linderbaum with his first two picks in the 2022 NFL Draft, traded a 2023 second-round pick to acquire Smith from the Chicago Bears last year, and Queen and Madubuike were part of his second draft class at the helm of the front office. Jackson was the best parting gift that his predecessor could’ve gave him and Tucker has been the gold standard at his position for over a decade.
Ravens Pro Bowlers
- Lamar Jackson
- Kyle Hamilton
- Tyler Linderbaum
- Patrick Queen
- Roquan Smith
- Justin Madubuike
- Justin Tucker
Kyle Hamilton Quote:
“It’s kind of surreal. I don’t think it has settled in yet. I have to be thankful for where I’m at and for all the people who got me here. Honestly, growing up, watching the Pro Bowl every year, it’s cool to have the opportunity to play in it. Obviously, we want to be playing in the Super Bowl, but I’m blessed either way, just to be selected. I’m thankful for everybody who voted for me and believed I’m good enough to be in the position that I am.
Tyler Linderbaum Quote:
“A lot of credit goes to my teammates – the other O-linemen I work with every single day. Without them, I wouldn’t be in this position for this accolade. It’s just a team effort. I’m always a firm believer that if the team is winning, a lot of accolades are going to come with that. There’s still a long way to go, but it’s good for my second year.
“There is hard work that goes into it. It isn’t easy, but there is more work to be done. I’m a long way from where I want to be. And hopefully, we’ll be doing something else when that time comes around the Pro Bowl time. But to just be recognized by other people, it feels pretty good.”
Patrick Queen Quote:
“This honor means a lot, just for the recognition and all the hard work that goes into it. I have nobody but God to thank, because truly without Him, it’s not possible to be in this position. It’s everything that you could want, and knowing the type of run that we’re on right now makes it that much better.
“The way we play, I think everyone on our defense should have made it, honestly. The guys that didn’t make it, it’s a shoutout to them for how much time and effort and dedication that goes into us playing well as a unit. You could easily fall off at any point, and for our team to just be steady, be on the uphill climb and prove themselves every day, it means a lot for everyone.”
Roquan Smith Quote:
“It’s an honor to be voted into the Pro Bowl. I’m very grateful for my teammates and coaches; each and every week we go to war together, and the guys put me in some of the best possible situations to be successful. I’m also very thankful for the fans who voted for me and see my talent and the way I respect the game. I’m very grateful to be in this position, and I don’t take this award lightly.
“My plan, though, is to not be playing in the game, because I want to be in the Big Dance. But still, I appreciate that accolade next to my name. It’s a great honor.”