Welcome back to State of the Ravens! Today, on Day 8, we again go up a level of the defense and look at a surprisingly fruitful position group in 2023: cornerbacks. If you missed Days 6 or 7, feel free to get caught up here!
In 2023, Brandon Stephens stepped up with a very solid season while veterans Ronald Darby and Arthur Maulet unexpectedly became essential roleplayers for the unit. In 2024, the CB room has a completely new look. The Ravens spent their first round pick on Nate Wiggins, a freakishly fast corner out of Clemson, and a fourth round pick on T.J. Tampa from Iowa State, a guy whom many have labeled as “the steal of the Draft.” However, there will still be some constants in ’24. The one-two punch of Marlon Humphrey and Stephens again headlines the depth chart, and Maulet returned to the team in free agency, signing a two-year deal worth up to $4M.
That being said, let’s take a look at how the depth chart will shake out:
Depth Chart
Marlon Humphrey — Brandon Stephens — Nate Wiggins — Arthur Maulet — T.J. Tampa — Jalyn Armour-Davis
As usual, we’ll start at the top. Humphrey hopes to have better injury luck this season, as he slogged through a tough 2023. Many fans were calling for him to be replaced, but I still believe he can return to All-Pro form and reclaim his status as a top-10 corner in this league. And the numbers tell the same story. While he only played in 10 games last season, Marlo allowed just a 46.7% completion percentage, leading to a passer rating of just 64.6, while picking off a pass and allowing just one touchdown in coverage. If he stays healthy, Humphrey could easily have a prosperous 2024.
Stephens was probably the surprise of 2023 for the Ravens. He’d struggled pretty badly over his first two seasons, as the team tried to move him to free safety. However, he thrived back at the position he played at SMU, cornerback, en route to a really impressive season. He was targeted an eye-popping 108 times, but he allowed a passer rating of just 80.6 and picked off two passes. Stephens’s tackling improved significantly, as he missed a career-low 2.6% of his tackles. Expect big things from him in 2024; a Madubuike-like scenario is definitely within reason for the young CB.
Nate Wiggins somehow fell to #30 in the Draft, and the Ravens were ecstatic. They turned down eight trade offers to move from that spot and turned in the pick within 10 seconds of going on the clock. Eric DeCosta had high praise for Wiggins, calling him the best cover corner in the Draft. He’s been locking down receivers in practice, leading to a target number that’s almost concerningly low. While he’ll likely start the year as CB3, Wiggins has the potential to climb the depth chart in 2024 as he develops into this team’s future CB1. Now, there are some concerns about his size—and how that will affect his durability —but the Ravens don’t seem too worried. However, we’ll have to wait and see how his small frame affects his transition to the NFL.
Arthur Maulet is the CB4, returning after a solid 2023, where he allowed a passer rating of just 65.8. Tampa was labeled a second-round prospect by most analysts, but somehow fell into DeCosta’s lap in the 4th. Tampa could take Maulet’s spot in the starting rotation next year, but for now it seems as if he’ll come off the bench. Armour-Davis, on the other hand, really is on the roster bubble. He has a lot of raw talent, but he’ll need a strong camp—and special teams versatility—to make the 53-man roster.
With that said, let’s look at the three-year plan for the CB room.
Three-Year Plan
Humphrey is probably around for the long haul, and he’ll earn a modest contract extension soon. The Ravens seem to know that Stephens will price himself out of Baltimore, and Wiggins will be at least CB2 next season. Tampa will, hopefully, eventually develop into the CB3/4 of the future, with DeCosta continuing to add depth at the position in the middle rounds of upcoming drafts.
That’s all for Day 8! Tune in tomorrow for the final level of defense: safeties.
