Following the 2024 draft concluding a couple weeks ago, many teams around the league upgraded some of their position groups. That’s true especially for the defensive backfield, as numerous organizations made notable additions in the draft at the cornerback and safety positions.
Pro Football Focus’ Trevor Sikkema recently listed teams with the most improved secondaries after the draft. The Baltimore Ravens were one of five teams to make the ranking, along with four NFC squads in the Philadelphia Eagles, New York Giants, Arizona Cardinals, and Detroit Lions.
In the draft, the Ravens used three of their nine total selections on defensive backs. Two of their picks were on cornerbacks and the other was a safety in the seventh round.
“The Ravens’ coverage unit looked great on paper last season . . . but when narrowing that focus to just cornerbacks, they fell to 13th.” Sikkema wrote. “Their only consistent cornerback starter who graded above 70.0 in coverage was Ronald Darby, who is now on the Jaguars.”
To Sikkema’s point, the Ravens had some question marks to address at cornerback this offseason. While have they have two solidified starters in Marlon Humphrey and Brandon Stephens, neither player graded out too highly with PFF last year. Also, Humphrey missed several games with injury and Stephens had previously not emerged as a consistent starter until just last season.
Sikkema views the Ravens’ draft moves as a significant boost to their secondary. In the first round, they took cornerback Nate Wiggins out of Clemson at No. 30 overall. Sikkema called Wiggins one of the “most talented coverage players in the class” and claims he could be an instant starter for the Ravens’ defense.
Then, in the fourth round, the Ravens drafted another cornerback in T.J. Tampa out of USC. Sikkema called Tampa a “steal” and claims he could be “an ideal reserve in his rookie season and potential long-term starter.” Tampa was considered a borderline first-to-second round pick leading into the draft and Top-10 cornerback prospect talent. So, it’s not surprising to see Sikkema consider him a great value selection.
Sikkema did not offer any comment on the team’s seventh-round pick, Sanoussi Kane out of Purdue. Kane profiles as a true strong box safety who thrives around the line of scrimmage in run support and against short passes. He has a lot of room for development as a pass defender deeper in coverage and against opposing pass-catchers.
As a late-round pick, Kane is much more of a developmental prospect than Wiggins and Tampa. However, he was a nice cherry-on-top type of selection to round out the team’s draft class and now-improved defensive backfield.
Between Humphrey, Stephens, Wiggins, and Tampa, the Ravens are now at least four-deep on outside cornerbacks. They have a nice blend of outside and inside defenders and can move players around in different spots. Kane gives them more much-needed added depth at safety and another athletic option.