After Lardarius Webb’s surprise inactive status for Week 1, the Ravens were forced to put an inexperienced corner on one of the game’s top-tier receivers, and the outcome was what most would expect: 6 receptions, 131 yards and a GW TD for A.J. Green.
Going into Week 2, the Ravens are expected to have their shutdown duo of Webb and Jimmy Smith ready to go for the ensuing smash-mouth battle of long-loathed rivals, and third-year CB Asa Jackson looked very solid in his debut last week and should be the favorite to draw the start in the slot this week. However, the inconsistency and uncertainties of Chykie Brown leaves the Ravens rail-thin at corner, and in today’s air-raid NFL, you need more than three trustworthy corners on your active roster.
Which brings me to this question: will the Ravens explore the free agent market to add depth at corner and provide insurance for Webb and Smith? Let’s take a look at who’s still waiting to sign on the dotted line:
Chris Houston
Houston was released by the Detroit Lions in June after a rough 2013 season, but the 29-year-old has a lengthy background of being a solid and dependable corner. In his seven NFL seasons, Houston has started 91 games out of a possible 99 while recording 376 tackles and 13 interceptions.
Most likely, the main reason Houston went unsigned this summer was injury concerns; he has battled various nagging injuries in his career and hasn’t played in a full set of 16 games since 2008 even though he’s only missed 13 career games.
Houston would make perfect sense for the Ravens on a one-year ” prove it” deal. Not only would it provide the Ravens with a very solid top-three CB corps, they would also benefit from his veteran presence. Houston’s 91 career NFL starts are more than the Ravens’ entire current pack of corners, who just have 65 starts between the four of Webb (41), Smith (22), Brown (2) and Jackson (0).
Asante Samuel
Samuel might be 33 years old now and coming off what was probably the worst season of his exemplary 11-year NFL career, but he’s still just two years removed from a fantastic season with the Falcons in 2012, when he recorded 36 tackles, 19 PD and five Int in 15 games.
The four-time pro bowler has recorded 433 tackles, 162 PD and a stellar 51 career interceptions in his illustrious career spanning from 2003 to 2013, making stops in New England (03-07), Philadelphia (08-11) and Atlanta (12-13).
If Samuel is healthy and has a year or two left in the tank, if might be worth it for the Ravens to take a shot on the veteran on a one-year agreement. Like Houston, his experience would bode well for a relatively inexperienced secondary, and if he can prove that he can still play in this league, the Ravens will have one of the best CBs of his generation at their disposal.
Corey Webster
The wild card out of this trio is the 32-year-old Webster, formerly of the New York Giants, who spent his entire nine-year NFL career (2005-2013) with the G-Men. During that span, the former two-time All-American at LSU and two-time Super Bowl champion recorded 372 tackles, 99 PD and 20 interceptions, including a career-high six during the Giants championship run in 2011.
However, after a brutal campaign in 2012 followed by an injury-plagued season in 2013 which saw the veteran corner limited to just four games, Webster shouldn’t get more than the veteran minimum. Still, if he can stay healthy after battling ankle, hip, and groin injuries in the same calendar year, and come in motivated and ready to prove he can still play in the NFL, he wouldn’t be a bad option on a one-year ”prove it” deal.
