5 free agents the Ravens could sign to replace Marlon Humphrey
By Justin Fried
3. Ravens free-agent target: Brian Poole
It’s pretty surprising that veteran Brian Poole isn’t on an NFL roster at this moment. A former Atlanta Falcons and New York Jets cornerback, Poole was one of the better slot cornerbacks in the NFL over the last few seasons.
He finished the 2019 season with an excellent Pro Football Focus grade of 79.0 that ranked ninth in the NFL among all players at his position and followed that up with another strong season in 2020 where his PFF grade ranked 11th among all cornerbacks.
Yet, despite this, Poole has bounced around from practice squad to practice squad in 2021. Perhaps it’s due to his age or perhaps it’s due to his recent injury history. Whatever the reason, it’s evident that he could help add depth to the Ravens’ cornerback room.
Now, it should be noted that Poole is exclusively a nickel cornerback. He wouldn’t be brought in to serve as a direct replacement for Marlon Humphrey.
Instead, he would provide further depth behind Tavon Young — something that’s certainly needed following the loss of both Humphrey and Ar’Darius Humphrey, two players who have experience covering the slot.
The Ravens need experienced players in their secondary, and Poole not only provides that, but he comes with a very strong recent track record of success.
Currently on the Indianapolis Colts practice squad, the Ravens should take a serious look at Brian Poole.