The Baltimore Ravens defensive back room is highly gifted. There are a couple of All-Pros in cornerback Marlon Humphrey and do-it-all safety Kyle Hamilton, and the team has a future star ready to emerge in corner Nate Wiggins.
While the talent is immense, there is also a ton of youth. Outside of Humphrey and veteran corner Chidobe Awuzie, no defensive back is older than 25. Several second-year players and rookies are in line to contribute, and while some are ready for the task, others might not be.
There might be a need for a veteran corner. Head Coach John Harbaugh understands the situation and did not shut the idea of signing one down.
"Yes, we are happy with the guys we have and I'm very confident those guys are all going to do well,” Harbaugh said. “We turn over every stone. We're always interested in anything you see on the waiver wire or anything else."
There are still some notable names on the free agent market at the corner position. More recently, former All-Pro Jaire Alexander was released, and the Ravens will likely look into that option. However, who are some other players Baltimore could target?
3 free agent corners the Ravens should target
Shaquill Griffin
Shaquill Griffin is an eight-year veteran with a long-standing track record of success in the league. He made a Pro Bowl with the Seattle Seahawks in 2019, but since then, he has bounced around with a few teams. Griffin signed a lucrative deal with the Jacksonville Jaguars after a strong tenure in Seattle, but a season-ending back injury cut that stint short.
After Jacksonville released him, he caught on with the Houston Texans, Carolina Panthers, and Minnesota Vikings. His most recent campaign in Minnesota earned him a 64.3 overall grade per Pro Football Focus (PFF). While the back injury may have slowed him down, the talent is still there.
With Baltimore, Griffin can be another starting-caliber outside corner. If the Ravens are adamant about keeping Humphrey in the slot where he is at his best, they only have two proven boundary guys in Awuzie and Wiggins. If Eric DeCosta and the coaching do not trust their younger defensive backs, they could sign Griffin on a one-year contract.
Mike Hilton
The Cincinnati Bengals were horrendous on the defensive side in 2024, but Mike Hilton was one of the few talented starters. It seems like the team is moving on from the 31-year-old, leaving the door open for a potential match with an AFC North rival.
At just 5-foot-9-inches tall, Hilton is a slot-only corner. However, his aggressiveness at that stature makes him fit in with the Baltimore defense. His tenacity in coverage and willingness to play the run is exactly what playing like a Raven is all about. He also knows the AFC North well, starting his career with the Pittsburgh Steelers and completing a four-year stint with the Bengals following the 2024 season. He is made for this division and built to be a Raven.
Last year, PFF ranked him as the 24th-best corner with a 75.9 overall grade. Most notably, he was the league’s best corner in run defense. He earned a 91.7 grade in that role, which is extremely impressive for his size, but that tells you what kind of player Hilton is. He is the scrappy kind of veteran the Ravens love, and if they opt to sign another corner, Hilton could be that guy.
Kendall Fuller
Signing Kendall Fuller would be a hit with the fans. The 30-year-old is a Baltimore, Maryland native, and his brother Kyle Fuller is a former Raven. Unfortunately, Kyle played only one game with the Ravens before a torn ACL ended his career, but Kendall still has plenty left in the tank.
Fuller’s 2024 season with the Miami Dolphins was injury-riddled. He suffered multiple concussions and ended the year on the IR after a knee injury against the San Francisco 49ers in Week 16. However, it was still an above-average season for the former Virginia Tech standout. His 66.2 PFF grade in 11 games was good for the 75th-best-ranked corner in the league.
Similarly to Hilton, most of Fuller’s success comes from the slot. He can play on the outside and add versatility, though, which is an aspect of all defenders that the Ravens crave. Most of their defensive backs offer versatility. Humphrey, Hamilton, and rookie Malaki Starks play all around the field, making Fuller a desirable free agent.
The Ravens have enough talent on their defense to earn back their spot as one of the best defenses in the league. However, the lack of veteran leadership in the defensive back room could quickly become a need, and each of Griffin, Hilton, and Fuller can provide.