As training camp nears, we'll look at five areas of focus for the Ravens. Today's spotlight is on their star-studded secondary:
On paper, the Ravens' secondary appears to have everything except a weak link.
With the addition of cornerbacks Jaire Alexander and Chidobe Awuzie and first-round safety Malaki Starks, the Ravens have stacked their back end with enviable talent.
Baltimore's pass defense hit its stride during the second half of the 2024 season after early-season struggles. However, the plan for 2025 is to lock down opponents from Week 1.
Alexander, Starks, safety Kyle Hamilton, and corners Marlon Humphrey and Nate Wiggins are all former first-round picks. Cream rises to the top, so you can't blame the Ravens' defensive backs for their lofty expectations – to be the NFL's best secondary.
"We really have no excuses to not go out there and do what we need to do," Hamilton said.
How will the coaching staff utilize the secondary's versatility?
Zach Orr never flinched during his first season as a defensive coordinator and play caller, and the defense found answers after a rugged start. With that experience under his belt, and with so much talent at his disposal, Orr feels like a master chef with a full cupboard of ingredients.
Baltimore's secondary packages will change as often as the coaches and players decide – from week to week, possession to possession, or play to play, depending upon matchups and situations. The addition of Senior Defensive Assistant/Secondary Coach Chuck Pagano brings another set of experienced eyes and suggestions to the staff.
The plan is to confuse quarterbacks by disguising coverages, forcing them into sacks, errant throws, turnovers, or other negative plays. Baltimore's secondary has the versatility to morph into many coverages. Wiggins has returned stronger, with star potential entering his second season. The tough and tenacious Humphrey can make game-changing plays from the slot or outside as both a pass and run defender. The multi-talented Hamilton can play almost anywhere he wants, and Starks has been soaking up the different concepts like a sponge, which should give Hamilton more freedom to roam.
Orr will continue to experiment with different secondary combinations during camp, and the Ravens' goal is to avoid the blown assignments that happened too often early last season.
"In a secondary, most of the time, you're going to have at least five DBs on the field – sometimes six, maybe seven – so you want to get your best 11 [on the field], but especially with the top 5 DBs, you want to play with the best five," Orr said. "You don't want to limit yourself just because, 'Well, he's only a corner, so even though he might be better than a safety, we can't play him because he's only a corner.' We force our guys to learn everything, and then we start throwing them out there to see if they can pick it up and execute at a high level."
Will Starks and the secondary avoid costly growing pains?
The Ravens gave up big plays during the first two months of the 2024 season, forcing them to make personnel and schematic changes.
Ar'Darius Washington was a stabilizing influence after he became a starting safety in 2024, and his offseason Achilles injury is expected to sideline him until at least November. That puts more responsibility on Starks' plate, but he's a rookie who doesn't act like one. He was organizing walkthroughs at the team hotel during rookie minicamp, and Starks looks ready to handle whatever the Ravens or opponents throw at him.
The Ravens drafted Starks because of his maturity as well as his talent. Heading into training camp, he's shown every sign of being ready to start right away next to Hamilton.
"That's why he's a first-round pick," Head Coach John Harbaugh said. "He's the kind of guy that you would expect to be able to step into a role like that. With Ar'Darius' situation, he got thrust into that situation maybe a little sooner than we'd hoped, but he's embraced it. I expect him to do very well."
Will injuries keep the secondary from reaching its full potential?
The health of Baltimore's secondary will be something to watch throughout training camp and preseason. Awuzie was limited to eight games in both 2022 and '24, while Alexander played just seven games in each of the last two seasons.
Younger players may have an opportunity to step forward. Second-year corner T.J. Tampa has length and an athletic skill set, which could earn him rotational playing time with a strong camp. He also dealt with injuries during his rookie season.
Talented second-year safeties Sanoussi Kane and Beau Brade are battling to become the No. 3 safety. Baltimore drafted two corners, Robert Longerbeam and Bilhal Kone, and they will compete for a role with Jalyn Armour-Davis, who's entering his fourth season after three injury-shortened years.
However, Baltimore will open training camp with excellent depth at one of the game's most crucial positions.
"A quote that's never been said and probably will never be said in NFL history is, 'We've got too many corners that can cover,' so I think that's a great problem to have," Humphrey said.
