The Baltimore Ravens placed five players on Pro Football Focus’ list of the best players from 2019. But conspicuously absent from the list of 101 players was Ravens cornerback Marlon Humphrey, who had an All-Pro season last year.
Though Baltimore saw cornerback Marcus Peters make the cut, Humphrey was the better and more consistent player. When the rest of the Ravens’ defense struggled, it was Humphrey who was consistently amazing, creating big plays to help Baltimore win some close games. If there was a best player on the Ravens’ defense last year, it was unquestionably Humphrey.
With an injury to Jimmy Smith in Week 1 as well as Humphrey’s emergence as a top cornerback, he was moved around and tasked with shadowing some of the best wide receivers in the game. In 2019, Humphrey covered the like of Odell Beckham Jr., De’Andre Hopkins, Tyler Lockett, Julian Edelman, Tyler Boyd and JuJu Smith-Schuster — a wide variety in size, speed and how they’re utilized by their respective teams.
In total, Humphrey was targeted 88 times, allowing 51 receptions (58%) for 440 total yards and three touchdowns, while nabbing three interceptions, two forced fumbles, and three fumble recoveries including two returned for touchdowns. Quarterbacks had a 68.4 passer rating when throwing Humphrey’s way.
Humphrey emerged as one of the top cornerbacks in the NFL last season, making a serious case for being a top-five defensive back. Though PFF might not believe that to be true, Humphrey is surely going to be paid like it when he gets to his first real contract.
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