Who has the best secondary right now?

By: Jake Rajala

The Baltimore Ravens have a secondary group that is more gifted than the Jedi Council Darth Vader. After displaying two stars in their secondary last season in Humphrey and Peters, the Ravens pass defense certainly bulked up with the addition of Marcus Williams and Kyle Hamilton.

Humphrey was an absolute stud early in his career, to say the least. Between 2018 and 2019, PFF gave him the highest grade in single coverage and the only grade above 90. He was also first-team All-Pro in 2019. Humphrey didn’t have the sexiest 2021 campaign and he suffered a season-ending injury in Week 13 against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Although, he’s healthy and motivated to win a Super Bowl in Lamar Jackson in the near future.

Humphrey’s partner, Marcus Peters, is also returning to full health after missing the entire 2021 season. Peters was an All-Pro CB in 2019 (as he had three defensive touchdowns) and he was also quite productive in 2020: four ints, four forced fumbles, and 9 pass deflections. Peters and Humphrey will serve to be a fantastic CB duo. Kambui Bomani of Pro Football Focus labeled Peters and Humphrey as the fifth-best defensive duo in football.

The Ravens elite defensive duo could also have a front-row seat to a DROY season from Kyle Hamilton. The former Notre Dame star somehow slid to BAL at pick 14. Tyler Sullivan of CBS Sports labeled him as one of the five biggest steals of the draft. Hamilton has excellent size (6’4, 220) and range at the safety position. He had three interceptions in seven games in the 2021 season. Peters won DROY and then the CB Marshon Lattimore won DROY. Perhaps Hamilton can be the next defensive back to win the prestigious defensive rookie award.

The former Saints free safety, Marcus Williams, has been one of the best players to not make the Pro Bowl over the past few seasons. Williams may be recognized as the player that allowed the Minneapolis Miracle to a fan that only watches the Super Bowl, but he’s honestly a reliable, ascending profile. He earned an 80.1 grade by PFF last season.

The Ravens also inked CB Kyle Fuller, who can play inside and outside. Ravens Wire gave the Ravens an A for the signing of the former All-Pro CB.

It’s clear that the Ravens defensive back room is stout from top to bottom. PFF nicely recognized the overall talent in the Ravens secondary, as they ranked the Ravens secondary the best DB room in the NFL. It’s obvious that Ravens have one of the very most talented defensive back units in the league, but do they actually have the best DB room in the NFL?

I do believe they have an amazing combination of talent and potential. The Ravens defensive backs have been overly productive in recent years, they are finally healthy in 2022, and they are very young (excluding Fuller and Peters). I am confident that the Bills secondary and Saints defensive back unit could be Top-5, as well. Although, I firmly believe the Ravens talented and well-proven CB duo should give the Ravens secondary a slight edge over the likes of BUF and NO.