OTL: After Being Gashed in ’25, Ravens Secondary Looks to Rebound

A season ago, the Ravens allowed 247.9 passing yards per game, a figure good for second-worst in the NFL.

Fast forward to the present day, and not much has changed, at least personnel-wise. The core remains intact along the top, with the strategy seeming to be the aim for improvement under a new scheme. Toward the bottom of the depth chart is where it gets interesting. A pair of 2025 draft picks are still yet to see regular season action, and just maybe some UDFAs could make the roster battle interesting over the course of the summer.

The Locks

CB Nate Wiggins

Wiggins struggled last season, but he simply seemed out of his element. After a stellar rookie campaign, he had his sophomore slump and he’s now looking to reclaim his CB1 status under new head coach, Jesse Minter.

S Kyle Hamilton

Hamilton was recently named one of the NFL’s 10 most versatile players according to The Athletic, and for good reason. He can line up anywhere on the defensive side of the ball, and his ability to wreak havoc in pressure packages is truly elite. Derwin James was a chess piece for Minter in his Chargers days, and he now has a very similar archetype to work with in Hamilton.

S Malaki Starks

Starks had a bit of a quieter rookie campaign compared to expectations, but he seemed to get better as the season went on both as a tackler and a presence in the secondary. The Ravens’ 27th overall pick in 2025 certainly still has some work to do to be considered a top safety, but his Georgia days, and moments from 2025, show he has all the potential to continue to come into form.

CB Chidobe Awuzie

Awuzie was the Ravens’ best corner last season, but his worst moment happened to come at the worst possible time when he lost his footing on a Calvin Austin III double move in week 18. Despite that, Awuzie constantly blanketed opposing receivers, and played especially well through the catch point to record some key pass breakups. I loved the move to re-sign him earlier this offseason.

S Jaylinn Hawkins

I have a feeling this could go down as one of the most underrated signings of the entire 2025 free agent cycle. Hawkins had four interceptions for the Patriots a season ago, and he’s poised to be another versatile piece for this Ravens secondary. He’s a physical tackler at 6-1 and fits everything the Ravens need for that third safety role.

More Than Likely

CB TJ Tampa

Tampa played in all 17 games last year, and while he’s still mostly a special teamer, he got more run last year on defense, recording 29 total tackles. Tampa is going into year three, and while he’ll most likely have a roster spot coming his way, we saw the Ravens move on from a similarly deployed DB, Jayln Armour-Davis, during final cuts last season.

S Keondre Jackson

Jackson stole the show on special teams, and quickly became a name that Ravens fans would remember. It seemed like he was everywhere on punt coverage, and his Week 10 forced-and-recovered fumble against the Vikings would serve as a major momentum builder that carried the Ravens to a 27-19 win. Special teams players are infinitely useful for any NFL head coach, and Jackson is almost certain to retain that role in 2026.

CB Keyon Martin

Martin is another solid special teams guy, and he even got some playing time as the nickel during a few short absences from Marlon Humphrey. It seems like Martin is a guy who was seen pretty favorably by the previous staff, but he’ll have to earn his way back onto the roster in 2026 under a new group.

CB Chandler Rivers

Like Martin, Rivers is a smaller nickel corner. The Ravens selected the Duke Blue Devil in round 5, and the undersized, yet physical and scrappy nature of Rivers drew some immediate comparisons to Tavon Young. Rivers will have plenty of work to do in order to carve out a role, but his draft status alone likely gets him on the initial 53-man.

Question Marks

CB Robert Longerbeam, CB Bilhal Kone

I grouped these two together because they’ve both had very unfortunate, yet similar starts to their respective careers. Longerbeam was a 2025 6th round pick who tore his patellar tendon during training camp, and Kone was another 2025 6th round pick, and he tore his ACL, PCL, and meniscus in the preseason opener. For now, they’re both firmly on the bubble, and the pair of 2025 6th rounders could even be in direct competition for a single spot.

Depth Signings/UDFAs

CB Matthew McDoom

I mean, seriously, how cool would it be if a guy with the last name “McDoom” became a stud corner in the NFL? He stands at a smaller 5’9” stature, but has elite speed and has above-average ball skills. He recorded three interceptions and 10 passes defended in 2025 as a Cincinnati Bearcat, finishing with the 12th most PD in the country.

CB Lardarius Webb Jr.

I respect the Ravens for bringing in two UDFA corners who are first team all-cool. Webb Jr. is a self-explanatory case. His Pops spent nine seasons in Baltimore, recording 15 interceptions and becoming a Super Bowl Champion. Webb Jr. has had his journey, starting out at the JUCO level before finishing his collegiate career at Wake Forest. He’s also undersized at 5’9”, but can be deployed in multiple spots across the secondary.

CB K’von Wallace

CB Amani Oruwariye

CB Marquise Robinson

S Jahquez Robinson – Auburn

S Silas Waters – Miami (OH)

The post OTL: After Being Gashed in ’25, Ravens Secondary Looks to Rebound appeared first on Russell Street Report.

Source: https://russellstreetreport.com/2026/06/16/out-to-lunch/secondary-rebound-otl/