Ravens News 7/19: Key Piece

Ravens CB Marlon Humphrey’s 2023 season was full of pain — but he can still be a key piece

Jonas Shaffer, The Baltimore Banner

Humphrey’s best games came just before he was injured

If Week 5 and Week 14 were low points for Humphrey last season, they at least offered clear paths to self-improvement.

In the Ravens’ five-game stretch from Week 6 to Week 10, Humphrey was tested just 11 times in coverage, according to PFF, and gave up just five completions for 24 yards. That included impressive showings against a wide range of top targets, from Tennessee Titans wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins, one of the NFL’s best contested-catch winners to Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta and wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown, both of whom excel over the middle of the field, to Seahawks wide receivers DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett, one of the league’s top deep-threat duos, to Browns wide receiver Amari Cooper, who had a career-high 1,250 receiving yards last season.

After allowing 92 yards in coverage against the Rams, Humphrey quickly sharpened his game. A week later, he gave up just three catches for 23 yards despite being targeted eight times in a win over the Jacksonville Jaguars, helping to quiet top receiver Calvin Ridley.

The week after that, Humphrey had his most impactful game of the season. In the Ravens’ Week 16 showdown against the San Francisco 49ers, he stood out against the run and against the pass, in settled situations and in more chaotic ones. His presnap communication on a fourth-and-1 play helped produce a first-quarter sack that was nullified by a penalty in the secondary. He came up with an interception off a Stephens deflection. He helped create another pick with his sticky coverage on tight end George Kittle.

How do AFC pass rush groups stack up heading into the 2024 season?

Larry Holder, The Athletic

The pressure rates for Odafe Oweh and Kyle Van Noy rank among the league’s best. They both served as pass rush specialists last year, though, while Jadeveon Clowney was more of the every-down workhorse. But Clowney’s vagabond career has now taken him to Carolina, so you’d have to assume Owah and Van Noy will be asked for more in terms of snap count. Can 2022 second-round pick David Ojabo give the Ravens a boost after playing a combined five games in two seasons?

There are fewer question marks up the middle, with Justin Madubuike having transformed into one of the league’s most potent pass rushers, regardless of position. There’s been progression each season for Madubuike, so there’s no reason to believe his play should fall after he cashed in this offseason.

5 Questions: How Does Derrick Henry Change the Offense?

Ryan Mink, BaltimoreRavens.com

Will Henry open up more for Lamar?

Jackson has long been the center of opposing defense’s attention in Baltimore. So has Henry in Tennessee. Put them on the field together and defenses have a two-pronged problem.

Edge defenders always have a tough assignment against the Ravens because they have to read and quickly decide whether to crash down on the run or maintain outside leverage in hopes of preventing Jackson from getting the edge.

Henry is the kind of back that can turn that split second of hesitation into a long touchdown if defenders don’t play it correctly. Conversely, Jackson has dropped weight to become more agile and explosive as a runner. If opponents are forced to crash down on Henry, Jackson is preparing to make them pay with big runs of his own.

Henry’s presence could also force opponents to commit more defenders near the line of scrimmage, which could open up the passing game for Jackson. Asked if Henry’s addition will take the focus off him, Jackson smiled during minicamp and said, “Absolutely.”

PFF50: The 50 best players in the NFL ahead of the 2024 season

Sam Monson, PFF

13. QB LAMAR JACKSON, BALTIMORE RAVENS

It goes without saying that Lamar Jackson is one of the most unique quarterbacks the game has ever seen. Now a two-time MVP, Jackson is in rare air, and 2023 was unquestionably his best season since the last time he won MVP. His 77.0% adjusted completion rate was the top mark of his career in a new offensive system in Baltimore, and he remained an elite rushing threat. Now with Derrick Henry in the backfield behind him, Baltimore’s offense could be one of the most fun-to-watch units in the game.

26. S KYLE HAMILTON, BALTIMORE RAVENS

Kyle Hamilton‘s impact now exceeds conventional statistics. He influences how the game is actually played when he is on the field. Deployed by Baltimore as a slot defender primarily, Hamilton consistently shut down the short game to his side of the field for the Ravens all season, earning an 84.7 PFF overall grade in 2023. A versatile playmaker on defense, Hamilton is the matchup answer most teams don’t have on their roster.

Every NFL team’s biggest roster hole or question mark entering 2024 season: Browns’ QB situation still concern

Jared Dubin, CBS Sports

AFC North

Baltimore Ravens: Offensive line shuffle

Cincinnati Bengals: Running back/Tight end

Cleveland Browns: Quarterback

Pittsburgh Steelers: Quarterback/Wide receiver

The Ravens seemingly always figure things out up front; but with Morgan Moses, Kevin Zeitler and John Simpson leaving, and Ronnie Stanley both experiencing lingering effects of his knee issues and not playing at as high a level as he once did, there are a lot of balls up in the air. The Bengals moved on from Joe Mixon and are looking to replace him with Zack Moss (who has looked like a starter-quality back for like three or four weeks during his career) and Chase Brown, who didn’t get on the field much last year. And they are the latest team to try Mike Gesicki at tight end. There’s a lot of uncertainty there.

5 free agents Ravens could still target, including former Steelers pass rusher

Brian Wacker, The Baltimore Sun

Justin Simmons, safety

Simmons is a two-time Pro Bowl selection with 30 career interceptions who also shared the NFL lead in picks with six in 12 games in 2022. Put another way, that probably makes the former Denver Broncos star too expensive for Baltimore.

His last deal in Denver in 2021 was for four years and $61 million, and while he won’t fetch anywhere near that number, a team such as the Philadelphia Eagles, which he has been linked to, has the money to land him with more than $25 million in cap space.

Still, Simmons is probably the best free agent safety on the market and would be an enormous addition to a Ravens defensive backfield that likes to use a lot of three-safety looks and already includes what should be one of the best safety duos in the NFL in Hamilton and Williams.