4 players along for one last ride with the Ravens

1. Marcus Peters

With all of the holes in the Ravens’ cornerback unit, could Marcus Peters really leave by the end of the season? Honestly, we’re not sure.

All we know is Peters will have played out his contract and is set to become an unrestricted free agent in 2023. His future likely hinges on how well he plays in his first year back from injury, but so far nothing guarantees he’ll be a Raven past this season.

After tearing his ACL and missing the entire 2021 season, Peters is projected to be healthy by training camp and will join Marlon Humphrey in the secondary for a pivotal comeback campaign.

Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta gushed over Peters and expects him to remain a crucial part of the team in 2022, but who really knows what the future holds after that?

The 29-year-old was playing some of his best football prior to his injury and has earned multiple All Pro and Pro Bowl honors. Since entering the league in 2015, Peters owns the league’s most takeaways (39), interceptions (31), interception return touchdowns (6) and defensive touchdowns (7).

There was certainly talk throughout the season whether Anthony Averett would replace Peters as the starting corner in 2022, but Averett has since left the team. That would theoretically mean less competition for Peters, and that barring a dramatic decrease in his production (or another injury), the starting job is all but his.

Yet cornerback is one of the team’s biggest needs heading into the draft, and if Baltimore were to nab a top prospect like Sauce Gardner, Peters’ job could truly be in jeopardy.

Only time will tell whether Peters has a bright future on the Ravens or whether he may be swapped out in favor of younger and healthier players.

After finishing the 2021 season dead last in passing defense, the Ravens may resort to desperate measures such as a complete overhaul of their corner unit. Peters’ storied career speaks for itself, but he should still keep his back to the wall.