Will Ravens take early swing at CB? Using 'The Beast' to consider 10 draft options (2024)

“The Beast,” Dane Brugler’s expansive guide to the NFL Draft, is here.

Baltimore Ravens decision-makers are fond of saying this time of year that you can never have enough corners, and that belief is typically confirmed months later when the team loses a few cornerbacks to injury and is forced to go deep down its depth chart to replace them.

In recent years, though, the Ravens haven’t spent major draft assets on augmenting the position. They haven’t used a first-round selection on a cornerback since they took Marlon Humphrey with the No. 16 pick in 2017. Over the last six drafts, they’ve selected just one cornerback before the fourth round. That was Brandon Stephens, a third-round choice in 2021. Even the Stephens pick probably deserves an asterisk because the initial plan for him included playing some safety.

Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta has been aggressive in adding veteran cornerbacks either via trade or free agency, but he’s waited until Day 3 of the draft to address the position. The drafting part of that strategy hasn’t yielded positive results. In the past five drafts, two of the five cornerbacks the Ravens selected on Day 3 (Kyu Blu Kelly and Shaun Wade) never played a game with the team. The other three — Iman Marshall, Jalyn Armour-Davis and Damarion Williams — have combined to play 30 total games with one start.

Will the lack of Day 3 hits at the position lead DeCosta to take a much bigger swing on a cornerback later this month? “You can count on us doing that,” DeCosta said Tuesday at the team’s pre-draft luncheon.

With the No. 30 pick on April 25, the Ravens certainly could take an offensive lineman if there’s one available that they covet. That is probably the most likely scenario, but don’t discount the possibility of Baltimore selecting a first-round corner.

Humphrey and Stephens, who was a revelation last season, return as the projected starters on the outside. The Ravens re-signed veteran Arthur Maulet and Ar’Darius Washington, providing depth inside, where safety Kyle Hamilton also could be used. Free-agent signing Ka’dar Hollman is a potential depth piece. Armour-Davis, Williams, Trayvon Mullen, Tre Swilling and Christian Matthew are also on the roster.

However, most of those players, including Stephens, are either in the final year of their rookie contracts or on one-year deals. A three-time Pro Bowl selection, Humphrey is signed through 2026, but a second consecutive injury-marred season would surely increase the questions about his future with the team.

At the very least, the Ravens need another starting-caliber outside cornerback ahead of the 2024 season. But if you look beyond this year, they face much uncertainty at one of the game’s most critical positions. That would be reason enough to select a corner relatively early in this draft.

“I think it’s a solid class,” DeCosta said. “Probably not at the level of the receiver and offensive line — very cyclical. But definitely, there’s some players who can come in right away and probably compete to start for us. We would love to add a talented corner at some point in the draft, whether that’s first round or second round or third round. … That’s a position that typically, you never have enough due to injuries and different things — guys will break down through the course of the season. Our depth has always been tested in the secondary. This year was no exception, and we were blessed to have some guys, like Ronald Darby, to come in and really help us.”

With the help of “The Beast,” Brugler’s draft guide, let’s look at some of the Ravens’ early-round options. Brugler has 12 cornerbacks ranked among his top-100 players in the draft. Five of them fall within his top 30.

Alabama’s Terrion Arnold (No. 10) and Toledo’s Quinyon Mitchell (No. 11) will almost certainly be long gone before the Ravens are on the clock at 30. However, Baltimore figures to have several other enticing options, either at 30 or with its second- (No. 62) or third-round picks (No. 93).

Those options could include the following:

Clemson’s Nate Wiggins (6-foot-1, 173 pounds)

Brugler’s ranking: No. 24

What Brugler says: “Wiggins moves with quiet, controlled feet/hips to seamlessly transition out of breaks and accelerate to top gear (allowed only one catch of 20-plus yards on 41 targets in 2023). Though he needs to improve his consistency as a run defender, he shows tremendous effort in pursuit and had two chase-down forced fumbles that saved touchdowns in 2023. Overall, Wiggins’ slight frame and suspect play strength are legitimate concerns, but he is a fast and fluid athlete with the cover awareness and on-ball production to be a starting perimeter corner in the NFL. He projects as a longtime NFL starter with tools like those of Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie.”

Iowa’s Cooper DeJean (6 feet, 202 pounds)

Brugler’s ranking: No. 25

What Brugler says: “With his natural anticipation in coverage, DeJean is rarely out of position and uses athletic gifts and top-tier ball skills to make plays (allowed only one catch of 15-plus yards in 2023). Though he has a steady process to gather and go, his lack of initial suddenness is something he must continue to mask to limit separation at the top of routes. Overall, DeJean is one of the best tackling defensive backs in the class and shows playmaking skills in coverage, because of his athletic instincts and competitive makeup. Along with an immediate special teams role (as a returner and gunner), his NFL starter-quality skill set fits interchangeably at cornerback, safety or nickel.”

Alabama’s Kool-Aid McKinstry (5-foot-11, 196 pounds)

Brugler’s ranking: No. 30

What Brugler says: “Although he lacks sudden twitch in his movements, McKinstry plays with a confident and controlled demeanor. NFL scouts say that both LSU receivers in this draft class (Malik Nabers and Brian Thomas Jr.) have called McKinstry the best cornerback they faced in college. He raises the degree of difficulty for completions with his length and ability to play through the hands of receivers. Overall, McKinstry doesn’t play with high-level speed or aggression, but he is a long, smooth athlete with the football IQ that should translate quickly to an NFL field. His game reminds me of James Bradberry’s, and he will compete for starting reps as a rookie.”

Michigan’s Mike Sainristil (5-foot-9, 182 pounds)

Brugler’s ranking: No. 43

What Brugler says: “He is a fluid and alert athlete with a wide receiver background — one of just five FBS players with at least six interceptions in 2023 (ranked No. 2 in the FBS with 232 interception-return yards). Though he has some overaggressive tendencies, he trusts his instincts to anticipate and properly position himself so he can make plays, both in coverage and versus the run. Overall, Sainristil has obvious size limitations that will remove him from some teams’ draft boards, but other teams will be more than happy to bet on his outstanding toughness, instincts and ball skills. He will compete for immediate starting reps as a rookie nickel.”

Missouri’s Ennis Rakestraw Jr. (5-foot-11, 183 pounds)

Brugler’s ranking: No. 49

What Brugler says: “With his physicality and footwork, Rakestraw is at his best in press man, where he can stay square and smother underneath routes. Though he stays balanced in his transitions, he can lose a stride vertically to speed (his 1.92 ‘flying 20’ time ranked 26th out of 28 cornerbacks who ran the 40-yard dash at the combine). His lack of interception-worthy plays is a concern, too. Overall, Rakestraw doesn’t have the desired long speed or build for his position, and his injury history is a concern, but he plays aggressive, sticky coverage with NFL-quality movement skills and confidence. He has NFL starting man-cover talent, if he stays healthy.”

Iowa State’s T.J. Tampa (6 feet, 194 pounds)

Brugler’s ranking: No. 55

What Brugler says: “Tampa has the ingredients to be a press-man corner, but he did his best work on tape from off coverage, where he accurately saw through receivers to the quarterback and overlapped zones to drive on throws. Despite having only three interceptions on his college resume, he plays the ball well, with the timing to attack the catch point simultaneously with receivers. Overall, Tampa gets a little sticky with his footwork at the top of routes, but he doesn’t lose much separation and plays with the size, range and ball skills to be disruptive. He has the tools and potential to be a starting perimeter cornerback in various schemes.”

Kentucky’s Andru Phillips (5-foot-10, 190 pounds)

Brugler’s ranking: No. 61

What Brugler says: “Although his production won’t jump off the page, his coverage tape improved each of his four seasons in Lexington — and that continued with a strong week during Senior Bowl practices. With his lower-body quickness and agility, Phillips can drive from zone or stay within arm’s length downfield in man. He prefers to play a physical brand of football, which is refreshing. However, his handsy tactics need more subtlety, and his tackling requires better finishing control. Overall, Phillips falls short in a few categories, which leads to in-game volatility. He is battled-tested, though, with the athletic instincts and feisty toughness that will translate to any level of football.”

Georgia’s Kamari Lassiter (5-foot-11, 187 pounds)

Brugler’s ranking: No. 62

What Brugler says: “A quicker-than-fast athlete, Lassiter makes up for his lack of top-end speed with smart, intentional coverage spacing for twitchy read-and-drive plays. Although his stat sheet and tape don’t scream ‘ball hawk,’ he plays with the football instincts that teams covet at the position. The last time he gave up more than two catches in a game was in the 2022 College Football Playoff against Ohio State. Overall, Lassiter doesn’t have elite physical traits at a position where size and speed are at a premium, but his play recognition and competitiveness are both off the charts. Although he is viewed as a nickel-only by several teams, he has starting talent that is best suited for a zone-match scheme.”

Rutgers’ Max Melton (5-foot-11, 187 pounds)

Brugler’s ranking: No. 63

What Brugler says: “Melton not only has opportunistic ball skills and athletic instincts, but he trusts them, which allows him to play sticky coverage in man-to-man or drive on throws from off coverage. Though his toughness stands out, he needs to be more reliable as a run defender and less handsy down the field. Overall, Melton brings explosive speed and attitude to his coverage, which will interest press-man teams. His experience inside and outside (and on special teams) will help him see the field right away in the NFL.”

Auburn’s D.J. James (5-foot-11, 175 pounds)

Brugler’s ranking: No. 92

What Brugler says: “A quick-reaction athlete, James has the twitchy feet and competitive demeanor to stay connected to the hips of receivers. Though he doesn’t lack confidence, his marginal play strength and uneven results as a run defender will follow him to the pro game. Overall, James won’t be a fit for every scheme because of his undersized build, but his quick feet will help him maintain phase in coverage. If he can handle big slots and improve his consistency as a tackler, he will compete for a starting nickel role in the NFL.”

(Top photo of Mike Sainristil: Junfu Han / USA Today)