The Baltimore Ravens appeared to have crushed the NFL Draft once again. Early rumblings from their offseason program have been proof of that. Of course, it’s a whole different ballgame once the regular season kicks off, but it’s been pretty promising thus far.
One rookie who has gotten the “draft steal” label is fifth-round cornerback Chandler Rivers. He comes to Baltimore as a 5-foot-9 slot corner, but one who plays like he’s 6-foot-1. He brings the kind of physicality and demeanor between the lines that scream Ravens’ football.
While Rivers will immediately be competing with Keyon Martin for the lead duties in the slot and could easily win the battle, there’s something more at stake. With a strong rookie showcase, he could quickly set himself up to be a key starting piece in 2027 and beyond. It’s all in front of him.
Chandler Rivers has chance to be more than a rotational option with Baltimore Ravens
In year one, Chandler Rivers will likely be nothing more than a rotational option. The starting group of Nate Wiggins, Marlon Humphrey, and Chidobe Awuzie, despite struggles in 2025, has a golden chance to return to form under new leadership. Jesse Minter should have the defense firing on all cylinders, and specifically for Humphrey, who struggled the most last season, he could return to the Humphrey we saw in 2024 when he earned first-team All-Pro honors.
However, there remain questions about Humphrey’s play. Will age catch up to him? What about injuries? Are those going to continue to take a toll on him? Sure, better playcalling on defense should help the starting slot corner, but he’s also about to turn 30 years old. His future could be up in the air.
Humphrey is also entering the final year of his five-year, $98.75 million deal. If he cannot bounce back in 2026, the final chapter is probably going to close on his exceptional Baltimore career. If Rivers can impress in the early going, then there will be a strong case for him to take Humphrey’s starting spot in 2027.
Even before then, Rivers could provide value as one of the top backups in the room. If he shows out at training camp and preseason, he could be the guy that Baltimore turns to in the case of injuries.
Those injuries are a real worry, too. Humphrey has had to battle through various injuries during his NFL career, and if he goes down, Rivers could contribute valuable reps. Then there’s Awuzie, who hasn’t had back-to-back healthy seasons since 2018 and 2019. In the case something goes awry there, Humphrey would likely be moved to the outside, opening up an opportunity for Rivers on the inside.
Of course, in a perfect world, Baltimore stays healthy this year, but injuries always present a problem. If Rivers stands out, he could present a solution to that problem. And even if everyone stays healthy, a strong rookie campaign from the 22-year-old could bring about a serious conversation about whether he’s the future at nickel for Minter’s defense. It’s a golden opportunity that he needs to take advantage of. It all starts in training camp.
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