Ravens' sneaky playmaker is starting to make noise in the secondary

The Baltimore Ravens' 2026 rookie class has the makings of one of the more talented ones in recent memory. It has high-end talent, mid-round selections already taking the league by storm, and late-rounders who were considered steals.

Cornerback Chandler Rivers was praised as one of the biggest steals of the entire 2026 NFL Draft. He fell to the fifth round largely due to his size. He’s a warrior at 5-foot-9, though, and with the unmatchable competitiveness Rivers brings, the plays are going to start coming.

They came in Baltimore’s Week 2 preseason win.

Rivers was third on the team with five combined tackles, and most notably, it was his play in coverage and as a blitzer that turned heads. The noise he made was deafening.

Chandler Rivers might be fighting his way into rotational opportunity on Baltimore Ravens defense

Chandler Rivers had two highlight-worthy plays in Saturday’s action. He had 0.5 sacks and one pass breakup. Both were statement-making moments for a player seeking out a rotational opportunity in 2026.

The first of those plays was the pass breakup while squaring off with Minnesota wide receiver Myles Price.

Rivers didn’t even need to turn his head. His instincts took over. He played through Price’s hands and timed the play on the ball absolutely perfectly. It was a textbook bang-bang play, and it shows that Rivers doesn’t get flustered when the ball is thrown his way.

His sack contribution may have been even more encouraging. You want to question his size and whether he has NFL-caliber play strength? Watch him find his way into the backfield and bring down quarterback Max Brosmer here.

That’s the relentlessness you need to have as an undersized corner. The ability to fight past Minnesota running back Zavier Scott to help tally what would be a drive-killing sack is exactly what you want to see from a fifth-round rookie.

For that performance, Rivers earned an 84.6 overall grade, per Pro Football Focus. That included an elite 90.0 coverage grade. And through two games, his PFF grade sits at an 89.1.

Clearly, Rivers is ready to make plays, and he resides in a secondary that could eventually allow him to do so this upcoming season.

Baltimore’s corner room doesn’t look great. They have a ton of potential to rebound under head coach Jesse Minter and defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver, but the organization didn’t make any improvements to the starting group. Rivers was actually the only real pickup they had this offseason.

There might be a slight blockage at slot corner (where Rivers will likely take snaps). Marlon Humphrey is the probable starter, and Keyon Martin is doing everything to push his way into the rotation. However, Rivers is making a statement—and it’s a statement that won’t allow him to become an afterthought in Charm City.

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