Marlon Humphrey takes step toward bounce-back season by locking up Justin Jefferson

Baltimore Ravens cornerback Marlon Humphrey is entering a make-or-break season. He is coming off an abysmal 2025 campaign, and at 30 years old, this trend could feasibly continue. Cornerbacks age more quickly than most positions, and with another down season and as he enters free agency in 2027, he could be on his way out of Charm City. 

Luckily, there have been some promising signs that Humphrey could be ready to bounce back. Most recently, Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic reported that Humphrey had two pass breakups against none other than Justin Jefferson during Wednesday's joint practice with the Minnesota Vikings. Zrebiec further noted this was Humphrey's best practice of the summer and that the Vikings struggled to get anything going downfield thanks to the Ravens' stout defense.

In Thursday's joint practice, Humphrey was it again.

There are some fair questions about the Ravens' cornerback room and Humphrey in particular. However, locking up one of the game's best receivers is an incredibly promising sign, and it could be the start of a bounce-back season for Humphrey. 

A bounce-back season could be in the cards for Marlon Humphrey

Humphrey's struggles last season can't be emphasized enough. The man gave up the most yards in coverage in the entire NFL. This was paired with the Ravensalllowing the third-most passing yards. He still recorded four interceptions, but as noted, his coverage was disastrous, and this must improve significantly this season. 

Still, Jesse Minter's schemes and an improved pass-rush should make life easier for Humphrey. Just as importantly, Humphrey's 2025 was an outlier bad season, and he battled several injuries. It might be easy to forget, but in 2024, Humphrey was a First-Team All-Pro cornerback.

Given these factors, there's a real possibility that Humphrey isn't washed despite his age and that last year was simply a nightmare season. And without a doubt, his defense on Jefferson adds to the evidence of this. 

Humphrey getting back to his typical standards would certainly ease concerns about the Ravens' cornerback room. Even if he doesn't return to an All-Pro season, playing at an above-average level would be a clear benefit to the defense. 

For the Ravens to reach their defensive ceiling, they'll likely need a breakout season from Nate Wiggins or a bounce-back year from Humphrey, ideally both. Thankfully, there's some positive training camp buzz around both of these possibilities. 

The proof will be in the pudding for Humphrey; with age and an awful 2025 season, having doubts about him is fair. Regardless, playing strong defense against an elite receiver is something that can't be taken lightly, and hopefully this is a precursor to a rebound for Humphrey.

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