It has been well-documented all offseason by various news outlets that the Ravens might have the strongest roster in the league. There are almost no weak points. Inside linebacker, left guard, and pass rush could raise some eyebrows, but if the young players expected to contribute in those spots can adjust to the NFL level, then there should be little concern.
The defensive backs were a severe weak point in 2024. The Ravens gave up the second-most pass yards in the league at 4,150. Every week, it seemed like Baltimore’s secondary was bound to give up one splash play that could have been a back-breaker. While the offense did their best to hide the weakness, matching the opponent’s offense step-for-step and usually coming out with a win, it was clear Baltimore had some work to do this offseason to repair the unit, and it looks like they did.
In a recent article, John Kosko of Pro Football Focus ranked all 32 secondaries in the NFL. Even after their horrendous season, Kosko sees the Ravens’ defensive backs as the league’s best group heading into 2025. He wrote:
“The Ravens added PFF’s ninth-highest-graded cornerback from a year ago, Jaire Alexander, this offseason to pair with the NFL's seventh-highest-graded cornerback, Marlon Humphrey. They also drafted Malaki Starks, PFF’s top-ranked safety in the 2025 NFL Draft, to join the league’s best safety, Kyle Hamilton. While safety Ar’Darius Washington suffered a torn Achilles tendon in May and is likely to miss the entire 2025 season, Baltimore’s philosophy of drafting the best player available has given the unit tremendous depth, assuming Starks lives up to his draft status.”
“Don’t forget the Ravens selected Nate Wiggins in the first round of the 2024 draft and signed Chidobe Awuzie in free agency. This is a secondary that could be extremely difficult to throw against in 2025.”
Ravens have built the league’s top secondary in 2025
The sky is the limit for Baltimore’s secondary this year. There are at least three players capable of making All-Pro teams when the season wraps up in corners Marlon Humphrey and Jaire Alexander, and safety Kyle Hamilton. Second-year pro Nate Wiggins could also take a significant step and showcase Pro Bowl-caliber play, and rookie safety Malaki Starks is expected to take the league by storm from the jump.
Defensive coordinator Zach Orr struggled in most of his first season as the team’s defensive coordinator. However, he seemed to shake off those first-year jitters, morphing the defense into one of the top units in the league late in the season. The overall stats still looked awful, but looking deeper into how they played in the second half as opposed to the first half, there is reason to believe the defense could be at the top of the league in 2025, which is especially true for the secondary.
The loss of 2024 breakout star Ar’Darius Washington hurts the safety room. There is talent there to replace him, though. The Starks selection looks way smarter now, and former Alabama standout Jalyn Armour-Davis has been praised as one of the smartest defensive backs on the team and could transition to safety. They also have safeties, Beau Brade and Sanoussi Kane, who are looking to take major strides in year two.
Although the stats from last year might otherwise, this ranking affirms what Ravens fans already knew. Baltimore should lock down opposing passing attacks with their new and improved secondary.