The Baltimore Ravens have established themselves as one of the NFL’s best teams this season, currently sitting at 7-3.
With Lamar Jackson performing at an MVP level and the addition of Derrick Henry bolstering the run game, their offense has been nearly unstoppable. The Ravens lead the league in yards (440.2) and points (31.8) per game this season.
However, the defense has taken a big step back in 2024. Last season, they led the NFL by allowing just 16.5 points per game. This year, they’ve fallen to the bottom 10 in the league, surrendering an average of 25.3 points per game.
If the Ravens want to avenge last season’s AFC Championship exit and reach the Super Bowl this time around, the defense will need to find its footing down the stretch. Regardless of how this season ends, the Ravens’ defense could see significant changes heading into 2025.
Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh.
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ESPN’s Dan Graziano suggested that star cornerback Marlon Humphrey could be a candidate to leave Baltimore this offseason. In 2020, Humphrey signed a five-year, $97.5 million contract extension with the Ravens.
Graziano pointed to several reasons this could be possible, starting with the Ravens’ struggling defense.
“At the moment, Humphrey has four interceptions but is part of an underperforming defense that could need an overhaul in the offseason depending on how the rest of the season goes,” he wrote.
Graziano also mentioned Humphrey’s age and contract situation.
“Baltimore’s first-round pick in the 2017 draft, Humphrey is now 28 years old and scheduled to make $18 million in 2025,” Graziano added. “Of that, $14 million is salary and $4 million is a roster bonus that’s due on the fifth day of the league year in March… Releasing him would cost Baltimore about $12.7 million in dead money if they do it before the roster bonus kicks in.”
Graziano’s final reason was tied to the Ravens’ decision to draft another cornerback this past April.
“The Ravens drafted cornerback Nate Wiggins in the first round of this year’s draft, too,” Graziano said.
Baltimore Ravens cornerback Marlon Humphrey (44).
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Baltimore (7-3) looks to take over the top spot in the AFC North on Sunday when it faces the Pittsburgh Steelers (7-2). Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. ET on CBS.
