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          NFL Nation

          Who is the Ravens' next first-time Pro Bowl player?

          • Jamison Hensley, ESPN Staff WriterJan 26, 2015, 03:15 PM ET
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              Jamison Hensley is a reporter covering the Baltimore Ravens for ESPN. Jamison joined ESPN in 2011, covering the AFC North before focusing exclusively on the Ravens beginning in 2013. Jamison won the National Sports Media Association Maryland Sportswriter of the Year award in 2018, and he authored a book titled: Flying High: Stories of the Baltimore Ravens. He was the Ravens beat writer for the Baltimore Sun from 2000-2011.
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          The Baltimore Ravens have had a first-time Pro Bowl player in each of the nine past seasons. It started with linebacker Bart Scott in 2006 and continued with rookie C.J. Mosley this season.

          So, who will make their first Pro Bowl from the Ravens next season? Let's take a look at the top five candidates:

          1. CB Jimmy Smith: He had a great chance to reach the Pro Bowl this season until he suffered a season-ending foot injury in Week 8. Smith's size and speed put him among the top cornerbacks in the league. But he needs to become more of a playmaker to gain more attention. He only has three interceptions in 24 starts since 2013.

          2. P Sam Koch: You can make a strong argument that Koch should've made the Pro Bowl this season. He was the only punter to rank in the top three in both gross and net punting average. His net punting average (43.3) led the NFL in 2014 and ranked fourth best in league history. It seems like Koch is just on the cusp after winning the fan voting and being a first-team alternate this past season.

          3. OG Kelechi Osemele: He proved he was completely recovered from a back injury that sidelined him in 2013 and established himself as the one of the dominating run blockers in the league. Osemele is a sound pass protector, and he made one of the most critical blocks in the playoff win in Pittsburgh when he pushed James Harrison to the ground and freed up Joe Flacco to make a touchdown pass to Torrey Smith. Osemele's play can get overshadowed by Marshal Yanda, who is one of the NFL's best linemen.

          4. FB Kyle Juszczyk: He didn't hit the production many expected this season, but that could change in 2015. New offensive coordinator Marc Trestman likes throwing to running backs (Chicago's Matt Forte had more than 100 catches in Trestman's offense), which could boost Juszczyk's 19 receptions in 2014. He was a first-team alternate this season, and it probably won't take too much to crack the Pro Bowl at one of the NFL's thinnest positions.

          5. QB Joe Flacco: It would've happened this season if Flacco didn't turn down a Pro Bowl invitation to be there for the birth of his third child. Flacco achieved career highs in passing yards (3,986) and touchdowns (27) in 2014. If that progression continues under Trestman, Flacco has a good shot at getting another chance to play in the all-star event. Before you list the reasons why this won't happen, remember Andy Dalton has made two Pro Bowl teams in the past four seasons.