The Baltimore Ravens’ roster shakeup continued, as the team reportedly plans to release cornerback Arthur Maulet, per NFL Network’s Cameron Wolfe. This move comes on the heels of Brandon Stephens signing a three-year, $36 million deal with the New York Jets, officially leaving the Ravens thin at cornerback.
Maulet was expected to provide valuable depth in the slot, but injuries derailed his 2024 season, limiting him to just three games. Unfortunately his efforts weren't enough to keep him in Purple and Black. Now, with both Maulet and Stephens gone, the Ravens’ cornerback group looks alarmingly thin beyond Marlon Humphrey and rookie standout Nate Wiggins.
After re-signing Ronnie Stanley, it's obvious where their focus should turn. It doesn’t take a detective to figure out where Baltimore’s biggest offseason priority lies. The pass defense struggled for most of last season, and now they’ve lost two of their top contributors. This secondary needs reinforcements—badly.
Ravens' secondary depth is becoming a major concern
Baltimore has never shied away from letting role players walk in free agency, but releasing Maulet emphasizes just how little depth they currently have at cornerback.
The 31-year-old played well in 2023, logging 14 games with five pass breakups, two sacks, and 37 tackles. His release saves the team $2.25 million in cap space. It also leaves another hole in an already "needed a facelift" defensive backfield.
With Maulet and Stephens gone, the Ravens’ cornerback depth is basically Humphrey, Wiggins, and maybe second-year player T.J. Tampa. That’s it. Unless Baltimore plans to convert a safety to corner—which seems unlikely—there’s no avoiding the fact that this is now their biggest weakness.
The Ravens have a few options to address the issue. In free agency, veteran slot corner Mike Hilton could be a logical target. The former Cincinnati Bengals defensive back has consistently graded well in coverage and would bring experience to a young group. Another potential name is Asante Samuel Jr. (Los Angeles Chargers), a talented but inconsistent corner who has flashed playmaking ability when healthy. He might be too pricey, but he's unsigned... so it's at least worth a shot.
If Baltimore chooses to wait until the draft, they’ll be betting on a rookie stepping in immediately—something that worked out well last year but is never a guarantee. That also means Humphrey would be the only veteran corner on the roster, which isn’t ideal when you’re trying to compete for a Super Bowl.
One thing is certain: The Ravens can’t afford to ignore this position this offseason. The moves they make in the coming weeks will determine whether this secondary is a strength or a liability in 2025.