One of the biggest reasons for the Baltimore Ravens’ success in recent years, as well as the play of Lamar Jackson, has been their pass coverage, which has gotten better and better each and every year.
The Ravens selected safety Malaki Starks in the first round, who should pair nicely and learn a lot from superstar Kyle Hamilton. The Ravens also added veteran Chidobe Awuzie, who could be in play as a starter at cornerback.
Those may not be the only additions Baltimore makes in the secondary, with a lot of good options available in free agency. Pro Football Network’s Sterling Xie recently predicted that the Ravens could take a flier on former All-Pro Stephon Gilmore, who spent 2024 with the Minnesota Vikings.
“A veteran like Stephon Gilmore would be a starting-level player who would allow the Ravens to avoid depending on an unknown, such as Jalyn Armour-Davis or T.J. Tampa,” Xie wrote for PFN. “Gilmore’s past experience in man-heavy schemes could translate well to a Ravens defense that played man at the ninth-highest rate in 2024. He’s still a quality starter, as evidenced by his 7.1 yards per target allowed with the Vikings last year.”
Gilmore is entering his age-35 NFL season. He spent the first five years of his career with the Buffalo Bills, king his first Pro Bowl in 2016. He spent the next four years with the New England Patriots, being named to his two All-Pro First-Teams as well as three Pro Bowls. He earned a fifth Pro Bowl in his single season with the Carolina Panthers, and has since spent a season each with the Indianapolis Colts, Dallas Cowboys and Minnesota Vikings.
Gilmore has recorded 32 interceptions in his NFL career to go along with 149 pass deflections, seven forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries and 617 tackles. Of his nine tackles for loss, one has been a sack.
There are other veterans potentially available for the Ravens in free agency, as Asante Samuel Jr., Rasul Douglas, Jack Jones and Shaquill Griffin all remain unsigned. It seems likely that the Ravens will pick up at least one of these veterans to solidify the secondary for Zach Orr.
