Soon-to-be-inducted Hall of Famer Ray Lewis is arguably the best middle linebacker ever to play in the NFL. He held the title of being the best in the position for several years during his prime en route to seven career First-Team All-Pro selections. And in the eyes of the Ravens legend, that title still belongs to a Baltimore backer.

Lewis heaped praise on his successor, C.J. Mosley, saying there is no one who plays the middle linebacker position better than him in the game today.

“I would love for you to show me a better middle linebacker in the game than C.J. Mosley,” Lewis said per Jamison Hensley of ESPN. “That's from a pure football instinct level of being a general and always ending up in the right place. Can he get better? Absolutely. Overall, that is what a linebacker looks like, plays like and thinks like. C.J. Mosley, that’s a football player.”

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That’s certainly high praise coming from a legend in Lewis. But Mosley has played well enough to earn such acclaim. The 26-year-old has been an ever-present on the Ravens defense, playing 62 out of a possible 64 games and has made the Pro Bowl in three of his first four years. He’s a tackling machine, and his eight career interceptions would put most cornerbacks to shame.

But while Lewis played his entire 17-year career in Baltimore, Mosley’s future is in some doubt. He’ll be an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season as the Ravens have yet to agree on an extension. With Lewis himself proclaiming that Mosley's the best in his position, the Ravens may need to pay the young linebacker like the best in order to keep him long-term.