Ebony Bird
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Baltimore Ravens: 5 most important players for next 5 years

By Cory Hughes

BALTIMORE, MD - DECEMBER 31: Running back Alex Collins #34 of the Baltimore Ravens rushes for a touchdown in the third quarter against the Cincinnati Bengals at M&T Bank Stadium on December 31, 2017 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
BALTIMORE, MD - DECEMBER 31: Running back Alex Collins #34 of the Baltimore Ravens rushes for a touchdown in the third quarter against the Cincinnati Bengals at M&T Bank Stadium on December 31, 2017 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images) /
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NEW ORLEANS, LA – AUGUST 31: Marlon Humphrey #29 of the Baltimore Ravens warming up before a preseason game against the New Orleans Saints at Mercedes-Benz Superdome on August 31, 2017 in New Orleans, Louisiana. The Ravens defeated the Saints 14-13. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images) /

3. Marlon Humphrey

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The second year CrimsonTide defensive back is up next. The season before he was drafted, the Ravens lacked depth at the cornerback position, struggling to play teams top wide outs whenever Jimmy Smith couldn’t play. With Smith having trouble staying on the field, the organization looks to have a future at the position regardless of what happens to him. Smith has always been reliable when it comes to locking down team’s number one receivers. Looking at Humphrey’s numbers and stats from this past season the team could have that luxury with Humphrey.

Shutdown corner alert

Over the course of the Ravens brief history in the NFL, their defense has always been their identity, especially the teams defensive backs. The Ed Reed’s, the Chris McCalister’s, the Jimmy Smith’s, the Ladarius Webb’s. Ozzie Newsome could have given the team one more generational talent for the team’s secondary. With Eric Weddle going on 34 years of age and Jimmy Smith’s checkered injury past, there may come a time in the next five years where the Ravens need Humphrey to be the leader of the secondary in Baltimore. And after his rookie campaign, it looks like the team might have drafted just the player for the job. In 2017, he was one of six cornerbacks that didn’t allow a touchdown. Expect coach Harbaugh and Martindale to play Humphrey a lot more with Jimmy Smith’s inability to stave off injuries.

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