While the Baltimore Ravens may have become an even stronger championship contender after agreeing to sign former Green Bay Packers Pro Bowl cornerback Jaire Alexander, this news is exactly what emerging young defensive back TJ Tampa did not want to hear.
In a starting base defense with five defensive backs, the three corners on the field will likely be Alexander, rising star Nate Wiggins, and veteran outside seatbelt Marlon Humphrey. Tampa has now been relegated to fifth or sixth on the depth chart, barring a sudden increase in his overall skill level.
The Ravens have a history of using Day 3 draft picks on secondary depth, but many of them have been wasted away after not getting any extended playing time. Tampa risks finding himself in that graveyard in the 2025 season, as he needs some major lucky bounces to go his way.
TJ Tampa could find playing time hard to come by after Ravens sign Jaire Alexander
Tampa was once regarded as a major steal by the Ravens, as Baltimore managed to nab a player many pre-draft analysts had going in the late second or early third round of the 2024 NFL Draft right at the end of the fourth round. At 6-2 with long arms and physicality, it's clear why the Ravens are high on him.
However, Tampa did come with some concerns about the lack of speed and quickness, which appear to have been so great in Baltimore's eyes that they have slowly eased him into playing time. Baltimore doesn't seem thrilled with the progress (or lack of same) he has made.
The Ravens signed both Alexander and veteran Chidobe Awuzie this offseason, all while using two draft picks on cornerbacks in Day 3 selections Bilhal Kone and Robert Longerbeam. Suddenly, Tampa finds himself in a legitimate competition for a roster spot one year after arriving in Baltimore with a great deal of hype behind him.
Tampa might need to show that he can play in this league with extreme urgency, as Alexander's recurring injury problems seem like the only way that he is going to get any extended playing time on defense. The pre-draft hype has already started to fizzle out.