The Baltimore Ravens had another respectable campaign as they ended with an 11-5 record in a much-improved AFC North division last season. However, they still failed to make a strong postseason run as they fell short against the Buffalo Bills in the AFC Divisional Round.
Despite their struggles in the playoffs, Baltimore is still expected to be a strong contender for the title in the upcoming season. However, starting quarterback Lamar Jackson can't do it all on his own as he will be needing help from his fellow stars along with the complementary players on their roster in order to reach the Super Bowl stage moving forward.
Here are a couple of underrated players who could potentially make an impact for the Ravens in 2021:
1. Eric Tomlinson
Baltimore's tight end room is not to be taken lightly as they still have proven players in Nick Boyle and Mark Andrews manning the position. However, the team also had a surprise contributor in backup tight end Eric Tomlinson who was a late inclusion for the Ravens last season.
Known by many as a veteran journeyman, Tomlinson has been around since 2015 but he failed to find a permanent home as he bounced from one team to another. Head coach John Harbaugh then took a chance on him as he was added to the Ravens' practice squad midway through last season.
Tomlinson then got his chance to showcase his skills when Boyle went down with a dislocated left knee in Week 10 of their campaign. Though the former undrafted player didn't tally any significant statistic in six appearances, he still successfully made an impact for the team on the field last season.
Tomlinson's effective contributions in the blocking department greatly benefited the team, especially with a squad like the Ravens that primarily utilize their running game to put up points across the board. Furthermore, he doesn't necessarily have to tally great numbers in order to prove his value, given that the Ravens already have multiple weapons who can shoulder the offensive load.
Based on his performance last season, Eric Tomlinson is expected to play a vital role in the team's backup rotation and will continue to be leaned upon for his timely contributions on the field.
2. Tyus Bowser
Last season, the Ravens' defensive unit was headlined by notable names such as Matt Judon, Yannick Ngakoue, and Calais Campbell, among others. However, many fans tend to overlook the capabilities of outside linebacker Tyus Bowser who is gradually making a name for himself as a productive piece in the Ravens defense.
The Houston talent was the team's 47th pick in the 2017 NFL Draft. Bowser has always been coming off the bench ever since his rookie year until last season. However, it is evident that the 26-year-old is constantly improving as he continues to rack up better numbers as his career progresses despite not being a regular starter for the Ravens.
Last season, he recorded 34 total tackles, 2.0 sacks, and five pass deflections in 16 games played. His sack tally doesn't really stand out unlike other prolific linebackers but his overall presence in covering the ball and stripping it away from his opponents remains to be a key element for the success of the Ravens defense.
With both Judon and Ngakoue now out of the Ravens' lineup, Tyus Bowser is expected to see more action and have an even greater level of production next season.
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