The free agency frenzy has died down, and the Baltimore Ravens’ depth at cornerback looks grim. The New York Jets recently signed former Raven Brandon Stephens to a three-year, $36 million contract, leaving just two proven corners on the roster: Nate Wiggins and Marlon Humphrey.
Beyond those two stars, a couple of young players are waiting for their chance. T.J. Tampa and Jalyn Armour-Davis are next in line, both former fourth-round picks—Armour-Davis in 2022 and Tampa in 2024. While proven veterans have dominated the spotlight, now could be the time for one of these young corners to break out.
Can T.J. Tampa or Jalyn Armour-Davis step up?
Tampa remains one of the biggest mysteries on the Ravens’ depth chart. The Iowa State product had plenty of hype coming out of college, with some draft analysts projecting him as an early second-round pick. So when the Ravens selected him with the 140th pick, many believed they had landed one of the steals of the draft.
However, Tampa played just 18 snaps in seven games last season while dealing with an ankle injury that kept him from showing his full potential. In 2025, he’ll have every opportunity to prove himself.
In college, Tampa was a physical man-coverage corner with long arms to break up passes and the ability to bully wide receivers through their routes. While he isn’t the most agile and lacks elite long speed, his technique and read-and-react ability should earn him favor with the Ravens’ coaching staff as they begin shaping next season’s roster.
Armour-Davis was the second of six fourth-round picks the Ravens made in 2022, a group that includes Daniel Faalele, Charlie Kolar, Jordan Stout, and Isaiah Likely. Armour-Davis could be the next to step up in 2025. Unfortunately, injuries have plagued him dating back to his days at Alabama, where he suffered knee and hip injuries. More recently, hamstring and knee issues have kept him off the field. Now could be his time.
Armour-Davis has shown minor improvements since his rough rookie season but hasn’t done enough to carve out a consistent role. He has yet to play over 100 snaps in a season and hasn’t shown much consistency in his limited opportunities. However, given the current state of the Ravens’ cornerback room, it’s only fair that he gets a real shot. When on the field, Armour-Davis can struggle flipping his hips and matching receivers step for step downfield, but his combination of length, speed, and physicality is intriguing. Time is running out for the former Alabama standout.
With the Ravens’ cornerback depth looking thin, this season could be a make-or-break opportunity for Tampa and Armour-Davis to prove they belong.