The Baltimore Ravens posted an NFL-best 12-5 mark last season and dominated the regular season. They stalled in the playoffs with a 27-25 loss to the Buffalo Bills in the Divisional Round and were sent home before a chance at another Super Bowl.

One big deficiency on defense last season was the pass defense. Baltimore ranked 31st of 32 teams, allowing 4,468 yards through the air from opposing offenses. Only the Jacksonville Jaguars were worse.

The Ravens’ defense also allowed 27 passing touchdowns, 10th-worst in the league.

General manager Eric DeCosta addressed the secondary this offseason, signing former Dallas Cowboys and Cincinnati Bengals safety Chidobe Awuzie to fill the hole opposite Nate Wiggins, while veteran Marlon Humphrey once again fills the slot.

But more is needed.

NFL Trade Rumors believes Baltimore should sign free agent cornerback Mike Hilton to bolster the outside of the secondary.

“Hilton just feels like an AFC North player, and the Ravens are always on the lookout for cornerbacks given the annual attrition they seem to suffer in the secondary,” Ulrich wrote. It’s started already with the loss of safety Ar’Darius Washington, who played a fair amount in the slot last year. Hilton would give the Bengals some flexibility with where to align other players and fit right in as a hard-nosed, smart contributor.

“Hilton fought his way back into the starting lineup as a former undrafted free agent all the way back in 2017 with the Steelers. … Since then, he’s been a fixture as one of the. league’s best slot corners with 123 games played for Pittsburgh and Cincinnati.”

The Ravens’ secondary was bad last season. Really bad. DeCosta drafted Georgia safety Malaki Starks in the first round this year, along with Western Michigan corner Bilhal Kone in the sixth.

While Starks could have an immediate impact, Kone is more of a project. DeCosta needs to explore all avenues to make improvements. Hilton could be a good start.