Ebony Bird
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Lock and reload: 2021 Baltimore Ravens defensive wish list 1.0

By Ronald Toothe

BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - OCTOBER 11: Inside linebacker Patrick Queen #48 of the Baltimore Ravens celebrates after returning a fumble for a fourth quarter touchdown against the Cincinnati Bengals at M&T Bank Stadium on October 11, 2020 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - OCTOBER 11: Inside linebacker Patrick Queen #48 of the Baltimore Ravens celebrates after returning a fumble for a fourth quarter touchdown against the Cincinnati Bengals at M&T Bank Stadium on October 11, 2020 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images) /
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ORCHARD PARK, NEW YORK – DECEMBER 08: Marcus Peters #24 and teammate Marlon Humphrey #44 of the Baltimore Ravens react after breaking up a pass during the fourth quarter of an NFL game against the Buffalo Bills at New Era Field on December 08, 2019, in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Bryan M. Bennett/Getty Images)
ORCHARD PARK, NEW YORK – DECEMBER 08: Marcus Peters #24 and teammate Marlon Humphrey #44 of the Baltimore Ravens react after breaking up a pass during the fourth quarter of an NFL game against the Buffalo Bills at New Era Field on December 08, 2019, in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Bryan M. Bennett/Getty Images) /

Cornerbacks: Marlon Humphrey, Marcus Peters, Jimmy Smith, Tavon Young, Deommodore Lenoir

A lot of us would go right ahead and say this is the best secondary in football, and then fight with people on Twitter about it for the following 24 hours. Marlon Humphrey just feels like he’ll be a Raven for life, and Marcus Peters is “Ravens attitude” personified. By all accounts, outside of quarterback, this is the Ravens most talented positional starter group.

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Jimmy Smith is likely on his last year in purple, signing a one-year extension before the season ended. Hopefully, he can be on the field more in 2021, as there are few #2-#3 receivers in football that can have success against him at full strength. The same can be said for Tavon Young in the slot, coming off missing just short of two entire seasons.

Deommodore Lenoir is a projected day three pick, but someone who could have an impact down the line for the Ravens. Having played both inside and outside corner in Oregon’s defense, his versatility would be nice for the Ravens given the aforementioned injury history of the #3 and slot corners.

He’s not the most physically gifted prospect, which is apparent by his draft projection, but Oregon coach Mario Cristobal says Lenoir is as good as he’s been around and looks forward to watching him on Sundays “for years to come”. Praise like that is earned through grittiness and being a hard worker, two things Coach Harbaugh loves to have in the locker room.

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