Baltimore Beatdown
Outside linebacker Kyle Van Noy is going to his first while left tackle Ronnie Stanley is heading to his second as replacements.
The Baltimore Ravens led the NFL in original Pro Bowl selections with eight and had two more added to their league-leading total on Thursday with the naming of veteran outside linebacker Kyle Van Noy to the first of his career and left tackle, Ronnie Stanley, to his second.
Both players were among the most notable snubs from the initial all-star roster and join safety Kyle Hamilton, running back Derrick Henry, cornerback Marlon Humphrey, quarterback Lamar Jackson, center Tyler Linderbaum, defensive tackle Nnamdi Madubuike, fullback Patrick Ricard and inside linebacker Roquan Smith as Ravens who will participate in the event.
After leading the team and finishing fourth in both the AFC and league overall with a career-high 12.5 sacks, Van Noy finally gets the long overdue honor he likely would’ve earned earlier in his career had he been able to focus on being a pass rusher predominantly the way he has been since joining the Ravens a month into the 2023 season. He was the first Ravens outside linebacker to reach double-digit sacks since Terrell Suggs in 2017 and the first to be voted to the Pro Bowl since Matt Judon in 2020. The 11-year veteran is replacing Pittsburgh Steelers star edge defender T.J. Watt who recorded one fewer sack than Van Noy with 11.5 and was held without one for the final four games of his season while the Ravens leader recorded at least half a sack in six of his last seven including the playoffs.
Fresh off the coach last year without having been in anyone’s training camp, Van Noy recorded a then career-high nine sacks. The Ravens signed him to a two-year extension last offseason and let three-time Pro Bowl edge defender Jadeveon Clowney who tied his career in sacks in 2023 with 9.5 walk in free agency. All Van Noy did was more than double Clowney’s 2024 sack production with the Carolina Panthers of 5.5 while proving he is not only one of the best pass rushers in the league but one of its best bargains as well as the deal he signed was for just $9 million with a less than a million in sack incentives that he reached in the regular season finale.
“I think he’s living his best life as a player right now, and he’s an older player,” general manager Eric DeCosta said. “That’s exciting for us to have a guy with that experience that he’s had. He’s played in multiple cities, [and] he’s been to multiple places. I think he really appreciated the Ravens, which is great. This is a guy that’s ... He’s played in what? Three or four teams. He loves this place. Our young players see that, and that resonates. And that’s a big deal. He comes to work every day with a great attitude, he’s a leader, and he’s fun storyline this year for us.”
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