The Ravens need to further upgrade their secondary after making a couple of cost-saving measures.
The team recently released cornerback Tavon Young, who would have had a $9.2 million cap hit this season.
The Ravens also decided not to tender fellow cornerback Chris Westry, who would have made $2.5 million next season.
Jimmy Smith is an unrestricted free agent and is considering retirement, while Anthony Averett is also about to test the market.
That leaves the Ravens with Marlon Humphrey, Marcus Peters, Iman Marshall, Kevon Seymour, Kevin Toliver and Robert Jackson as the only cornerbacks on the current roster.
This creates more uncertainty this offseason.
Both Peters and Humprhey are coming off season-ending injuries.
Marshall was a fourth-round draft pick in 2019 but has only appeared in three games over his career because he also has not been able to stay healthy.
Seymour, Toliver and Jackson are not proven starters.
So, the Ravens might have to select a cornerback with the 14th overall pick in the draft. Cincinnati’s Sauce Gardner and Washington’s Trent McDuffie have been two players linked to the Ravens in the first round, but they could be taken before the team makes its selection.
Look for the general manager Eric DeCosta to select at least two defensive backs in this year’s draft.
“It looks like you can get a corner pretty much at any point throughout the Draft process,” DeCosta said.
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With the Denver Broncos’ recent acquisition of Russell Wilson, the AFC is loaded with talented quarterbacks that like to throw the ball downfield. A pass rush and dominant secondary will be needed to counter these playmakers.
The Ravens had a patchwork secondary last season because of injuries and they finished the season ranked last in the NFL against the pass.
Cincinnati quarterback Joe Burrow threw for 941 yards with seven touchdowns in just two games against the Ravens last season. Rookie wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase ran rampant over the secondary in the pair of blowout victories for Cincnnati.
The Ravens don’t want a repeat performance.
As a result, they need to bolster the secondary, but salary-cap restraints will prove to be a challenge. The Ravens currently have about $18 million available for free agency and the number will rise over the coming weeks as the team makes some more moves.
However, the team needs about $12 million to sign its draft picks and has to keep funds in reserve in case of more injuries, which would necessitate signing replacements during the season.
The hope is Humphrey and Peters can get back in the lineup and stay healthy. The Ravens are also going to need their rookies to make immediate impacts.
DeCosta fully understands the challenge of playing cornerback in the NFL. But that doesn’t make his job any easier when it comes to finding available playmakers.
“I think it’s such an interesting position because when you look at cornerbacks, you want guys that can cover, that don’t allow completions, guys that force turnovers and guys that tackle,” DeCosta said. “And so, I would say, we have, actually, two outstanding corners – both guys got hurt this year – in Marlon Humphrey and Marcus Peters.
“And what makes them both very special is both guys can cover, they both force turnovers, and they have the ability in critical situations to make big plays against good opponents.”
