The Baltimore Ravens enter training camp with a crowded cornerback room, where established veteran Marlon Humphrey will face stiff competition for playing time from a talented group of young defensive backs.
Marlon Humphrey remains the tone-setter in the cornerback room, a 10-year veteran who can slide inside, tackle, blitz, handle physical matchups, and give the Ravens flexibility against different personnel groupings. His value goes beyond playing outside corner, with coach Anthony Weaver's defense already boasting enough talent up front and versatility at safety to be one of the NFL's better units.
Nate Wiggins, a former Clemson standout, may be the most important cornerback on the roster because of his ceiling. Listed at 6-foot-1 and 182 pounds, he is entering his third season with the traits to become a true lead corner. The Ravens need Wiggins to turn talent into consistency, with his length, speed, and ball skills giving him the tools to match top receivers.
Chidobe Awuzie gives the Ravens a valuable veteran presence, with 10 NFL seasons under his belt and experience in handling outside work. He played 557 snaps last season, and his ability to handle outside work gives the Ravens insurance if injuries strike or if the younger corners need more time. Awuzie may not have the same upside as Wiggins, but his reliability could be important for a defense with championship expectations.
T.J. Tampa is one of the key young corners to watch, with the size to compete on the outside and the opportunity to show improved consistency, better technique, and enough special teams value to strengthen his roster case. If he stacks good practices and plays well in preseason games, he can make the depth chart much more difficult to sort out.
Amani Oruwariye gives Baltimore another experienced outside cornerback option, with the size and length to match bigger receivers. However, his challenge is roster math, with the Ravens already having Humphrey, Wiggins, and Awuzie positioned for important roles, and several younger defensive backs pushing for developmental spots.
Bilhal Kone is another young corner with size worth monitoring, with a profile that fits what teams look for in developmental outside corners. For Kone, camp will come down to trust, as he must show that he can handle coverage assignments, tackle consistently, and contribute on special teams.
Robert Longerbeam enters camp trying to separate from a crowded group of reserve corners, with the need to make his mark through competitiveness, quickness, and special teams effort. In a room this deep, one or two splash plays will not be enough for Longerbeam to prove himself.
Keyon Martin brings a smaller, quicker profile to the competition, with the need to show he can hold up physically while using his quickness to stay competitive in coverage. His size means tackling, toughness, and positioning will be especially important for Martin.
Matthew McDoom enters as a rookie out of Cincinnati, with the first task being to prove he belongs in a crowded room. He will need to stand out through speed, energy, and special teams value, with the Ravens not needing every rookie cornerback to make the 53-man roster.
Chandler Rivers is one of the more intriguing rookies in the cornerback room, with competitiveness and coverage instincts making him worth watching. For Rivers, the pressure will be on to overcome a crowded depth chart and prove himself in a room filled with talented young defensive backs.
The outcome of the competition for playing time in the cornerback room will determine how flexible the Ravens can be in coverage, with the team's entire secondary changing if Nate Wiggins makes the leap to becoming a true lead corner. The stakes are high, and the competition will be fierce as the Ravens head into training camp with a crowded cornerback room.
Source: Yahoo Sports