As the NFL season approaches and OTAs are ongoing, every Baltimore Ravens fan is wondering who the starting center will be. However, finding a dependable backup slot cornerback behind Marlon Humphrey will also be vital. The three-time Pro Bowler showed signs of regression last year.
As it stands, fifth-round pick Chandler Rivers, Keyon Martin, and Robert Longerbeam will be competing for the spot. Martin played a role last season, earning 143 snaps despite being an undrafted free agent. Still, at 170 pounds, his size concerns are undeniable. Longerbeam, the 2025 sixth-round pick, unfortunately, missed all of his season due to a knee injury.
The point is, this group isn't super proven, but with Humphrey possibly on a downward spiral, somebody needs to stand out.
Jesse Minter's affinity for dime coverage adds to the importance of one of these three young players emerging before the season starts. And of course, OTAs will be a great place for these players to make a statement.
The possibility of Marlon Humphrey declining makes the backup slot corner battle crucial for the Baltimore Ravens
There's no sugarcoating things: Humphrey wasn't up to his typical standards last year.
Sure, he did record four interceptions and forced two fumbles. Regardless, his coverage was subpar. PFF grades aren't the end-all, be-all, but his 50.1 grade ranked 105th out of 111 corners. Humphrey also surrendered a career-worst 9.3 yards per target. He gambled too much in pass coverage and often looked a step too slow.
Was this merely a down season with a coaching staff that was, by all accounts, not putting the team in a position to win, especially on defense? The Ravens sure hope so, but Humphrey turns 30 in July. Cornerbacks typically have shorter primes, and this could be the beginning of the end for Humphrey.
Thus, the Ravens need to have a contingency plan in the scenario that Humphrey's down season proves to be a true decline.
At this juncture, it's hard to pinpoint a clear-cut front-runner between Rivers, Martin, and Longerbeam, since, as previously noted, they are all unproven.
Frankly, I have a hard time believing that Martin is the solution, given his frame, though he did play with some solid flashes last year. Rivers might be the closest thing to an early standout given where he was drafted. At 185 pounds, he too has size concerns, but his speed could make up for things. Longerbeam is a wildcard coming off his injury, but Ryan Mink of BaltimoreRavens.com noted that he has been a standout so far in OTAs.
It's truly anybody's game, and a strong showing at OTAs could help one of these young three corners get a leg up. Ultimately, while all eyes might be on the battle for the starting center job, fans can't forget about who earns the backup slot corner gig, as it could prove to be equally crucial if Humphrey's struggles persist.
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