​The NFL’s annual Top 100 Players ranking isn’t perfect, but more often than not, it has rewarded consistency. We may disagree with the order in which players are often stacked (see Lamar Jackson’s finish this year), but most thought the Baltimore Ravens would be well represented.That’s exactly why Roquan Smith’s latest appearance matters. Don’t look now, but one of the Ravens’ defensive captains cracks the list again. He lands at 65. It’s another reminder that one of football’s most dependable defenders continues earning the respect of those who compete against him every Sunday.Every summer, new stars emerge while others disappear from the list entirely. Injuries, production, and team success all influence where players ultimately land, making longevity one of the most impressive accomplishments the ranking can recognize.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementSmith’s NFL journey has been defined by excellence from the very beginning. Selected eighth overall by the Chicago Bears in the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft, he immediately established himself as one of the league’s premier young linebackers, earning PFWA All-Rookie Team honors during his first professional season. Since then, the accolades have continued piling up.Smith has been named a first-team All-Pro three consecutive seasons from 2022 through 2024 after earning second-team All-Pro recognition in both 2020 and 2021. He’s also appeared in four straight Pro Bowls while capturing the professional Butkus Award twice, cementing his reputation as one of the NFL’s premier off-ball linebackers.That success has continued in Baltimore, where Smith has become far more than an elite tackler.The Ravens feature stars at every level of their defense. Kyle Hamilton remains one of football’s most versatile defensive backs. Marlon Humphrey continues leading the secondary, while Trey Hendrickson strengthens an already dangerous pass rush. Even with all that talent, Smith remains the defense’s heartbeat.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementHis leadership, communication, and instincts consistently place teammates in a position to succeed before the football is ever snapped. Those qualities rarely appear on a stat sheet, but they remain essential to Baltimore’s defensive identity. Landing at No. 65 won’t generate the same headlines as some of the league’s offensive stars, and that’s perfectly fitting. Smith has never built his career around attention. He’s built it around consistency. Year after year, season after season, he continues proving why teammates, opponents, and fellow NFL players still view him as one of football’s premier defensive leaders.This article originally appeared on Ravens Wire: Ravens star Roquan Smith earns another NFL Top 100 honor