2019 Baltimore Ravens defense will be unlike any before it

Gone are the days of a ferocious front-seven, but in comes an elite secondary ready to leave it mark on Baltimore Ravens franchise history.

The Baltimore Ravens defense was once famed for a front-seven with remarkable players like Ray Lewis, Terrell Suggs, and Haloti Ngata. For years, Baltimore churned out dominant defensive fronts annually. Behind a strong leader at middle linebacker in guys like Lewis and C.J. Mosley, to savvy vets outside like Suggs and Peter Boulware, the Ravens defense has always been built up front.

While this isn’t to slight the team’s secondary, it’s never been the defense’s definitive strength. Its always held its end of the bargain behind stars like Ed Reed and Chris McAlister, and its had plenty of players come through on their long, storied careers like Rod Woodson and Eric Weddle. Still, this unit has never been legendary like the front-sevens we’ve seen in Charm City.

In 2019, that will change forever, because the current Baltimore Ravens secondary is as good as any the NFL has ever seen. Across the back-end are Hall of Fame talents, establish studs, savvy veterans, and young players ready to become superstars.

Who captains this secondary is truly up for debate. New-comer Earl Thomas has a straight path to the Hall of Fame and is no stranger to commanding elite secondaries. Thomas led the famed “Legion of Boom” that appeared in back-to-back Super Bowls with thr Seattle Seahawks.

Jimmy Smith has been with the team since 2011 and has been perhaps the most underrated cornerback in his time in the league. Tony Jefferson is entering his third-season in Baltimore and plays above-average with an edge and is a beloved character in the locker room. Tavon Young is perhaps the best slot-cornerback in the league and is a play-maker with the ball in his hands

Then there’s Marlon Humphrey, the best cornerback in the NFL that no one is talking about. With a new jersey number (now #44, formerly #29), perhaps now he will get noticed by the media. Humphrey, who will turn just 23-years old on July 8th, is entering the prime of his career and will look to open the eyes and drop the jaws of those watching him. Call him Richard Sherman 2.0, because Marlon Humphrey will shutdown any who line-up against him and have quarterbacks numbers all game long.

Beyond this quintet of elite players are starting caliber talents like Brandon Carr, Anthony Levine, and Anthony Averett. The Ravens will have great role players behind thim in guys like DeShon Elliott, Maurice Canady, Chuck Clark, Iman Marshall, and Cyrus Jones. The Baltimore Ravens secondary is the gift that keeps on giving…

Never before have we seen a Ravens secondary this talented and deep across the board. From ball-hawks to big-hitters, this back-end has it all. The interceptions will come by the truck load and anything less than 20 would be a disappointment. There’s not a passing offense in this league that will challenge this unit in 2019.

We’ve seen some incredible secondaries over the last decade, and the 2019 edition of the Baltimore Ravens will join those ranks. Get ready, Ravens Flock, because this group will be unlike anything we’ve ever seen before, and they will be the reason the the defense remains in the elite category.