Baltimore Ravens: Ranking 5 biggest needs in 2021 NFL Draft
By Peter Panacy
Ravens Need No. 4: Nickel Cornerback
Eric DeCosta could go one of two ways with this particular spot.
On one hand, he and the Ravens can hope five-year pro nickel cornerback Tavon Young bucks the injury trend he’s been associated with ever since Baltimore drafted him back in Round 4 in 2016. When healthy, Young has been one of the better slot-cover defensive backs in the league, which resulted in him receiving a three-year extension back in 2019.
The problem, though, is Young hasn’t been healthy, missing all of that year and all but two games last season with injuries.
Cutting Young this offseason makes zero sense from a financial standpoint, but DeCosta has to understand how much the defensive back’s absence has put a strain on the remainder of Baltimore’s secondary depth chart.
Simply put, a near-$6 million cap hit in 2021 is an awful lot for a player who has a regular history of missing games.
Even if Young remains a key part of the defensive backfield in 2021 and potentially beyond, finding some solid depth to support him and potentially overtake him would be a wise move for the Ravens defense.