The Baltimore Ravens made a significant splash late in the offseason, further bolstering their defensive backfield by signing two-time Pro Bowl cornerback Jaire Alexander. This move adds another high-caliber player to a unit that was already shaping up to be one of the league’s deepest.
Alexander joins an established group featuring veteran star Marlon Humphrey, promising young talent like 2023 first-round pick Nate Wiggins, and experienced free-agent addition Chidobe Awuzie. With these four cornerbacks leading the depth chart, the Ravens possess an enviable collection of talent at the position.
For Pro Bowl cornerback Marlon Humphrey, the addition of Alexander is a welcome development, not a potential problem regarding playing time. Humphrey summed up the sentiment by stating, “A quote that’s never been said and probably will never be said in NFL history is, ‘We got too many corners that can cover.’” He views the abundance of talent as a “great problem to have” and expressed excitement about Alexander joining the team, noting that the possibilities for the secondary now feel “endless.”
This aligns perfectly with a long-standing philosophy within the Ravens organization, championed by figures like General Manager Eric DeCosta and his predecessor Ozzie Newsome: You can simply “never have too many DBs.”
Why Cornerback Depth is Crucial
While having four potentially starting-caliber cornerbacks might pose some interesting decisions for defensive coordinator Zach Orr and secondary coach Chuck Pagano when everyone is healthy, the reality of an NFL season underscores the value of such depth. The Ravens have learned the hard way in past seasons how quickly injuries can decimate a cornerback room. Adding a player of Alexander’s caliber provides crucial insurance.
Alexander himself has faced significant injury issues in recent years, missing 34 games over the past four seasons, including 10 in each of the last two. Similarly, Chidobe Awuzie has also dealt with injuries that limited his play. Even players like Jalyn Armour-Davis have struggled with availability. Having a deep rotation like Humphrey, Wiggins, Awuzie, and Alexander allows the team to absorb potential absences throughout the long season without a dramatic drop-off in coverage ability.
Potential Roles and Versatility
The addition of Alexander, who signed a one-year deal reportedly worth up to $6 million with incentives, also enhances the secondary’s versatility. While Nate Wiggins, who had a promising rookie campaign, and Alexander could potentially line up on the outside, Marlon Humphrey has grown adept at playing the slot cornerback role, where he could be utilized frequently. This configuration would push Awuzie into the No. 4 spot, providing elite depth or potentially even opening up options for him elsewhere if needed.
Alongside safeties like Kyle Hamilton and rookie Malaki Starks – adding to a secondary that could feature five former first-round picks (Alexander, Humphrey, Hamilton, Wiggins, Starks) – the Ravens aim for a flexible, “position-less” defense that can confuse opposing quarterbacks and match up effectively against varied offensive schemes and receiver strengths. Head Coach John Harbaugh highlighted the necessity of strong cornerbacks in defending modern passing concepts and emphasized that Alexander’s arrival makes their group “that much better.”
Fellow safety Kyle Hamilton echoed Humphrey’s enthusiasm, calling Alexander a “great addition” and highlighting his consistent performance since entering the league as “one of the best.” Quarterback Lamar Jackson also reportedly embraced Alexander, a former college teammate at Louisville.
Despite facing challenges last season, where the pass defense struggled at times before improving late in the year, the fortified secondary, coupled with new coaching staff additions and developing talent, gives the Ravens reason to believe they can field one of the NFL’s premier defensive units in the upcoming season. As Hamilton put it, with the talent assembled, there are “no excuses” not to perform at a high level.
Managing the health of key players like Alexander and Awuzie will be a priority for the team’s medical and conditioning staff. But the overall sentiment remains clear: having an abundance of talented, capable cornerbacks is a valuable asset, a great problem to solve, and something the Ravens are embracing heading into training camp.
