The Ravens unequivocally have what it takes to be one of the premier defensive teams in the NFL next season. I have gone into detail assessing the front seven of the team heading into 2026, and here I will go into detail analyzing how the Ravens’ secondary is in line to look for the 2026 season.
Set to start at the first of the two primary cornerback spots is 2024 first rounder Nate Wiggins. Wiggins had a phenomenal rookie season in 2024 and after that was in line to become a star in the NFL given his strong rookie year and high draft selection. However, Wiggins had a sophomore slump type of season in 2025 and graded near the middle of the pack among players at his position as his snap count increased to being a full-time starter taking over 1000 snaps. However, many Ravens’ players especially on the defensive side of things had a down year under now fired head coach John Harbaugh and now fired defensive coordinator Zachary Orr. Wiggins could certainly be in line to breakout as a star heading into year 3 now that the Ravens have hired a defensive minded head coach and have brought on a proven established defensive coordinator as well.
Former first rounder Kyle Hamilton is set to start at the strong safety spot and is among the best overall defensive players in the sport. Hamilton in three of four seasons has graded in the top 5 among players at his position which included grading in the top 3 on two of those occasions, while he still graded in the top ten in the remaining season. Hamilton is certainly in line to be perhaps the premier safety in the sport heading into year 1 under new defensive minded head coach Jesse Minter and new defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver.
2025 1st rounder Malaki Starks is set to start at the free safety spot alongside Hamilton, and the pairing is perhaps the premier safety duo in the NFL. Starks had a strong rookie season grading in the above average range among players at his position despite being a rookie. Given his very strong rookie campaign and high draft selection, Starks is in line to emerge as one of the premier players at his position going forward.
Former 2nd rounder Chidobie Awuzie is set to start at the other primary cornerback spot and is a strong player at the position although not necessarily being elite. Awuzie in nine NFL seasons has graded in the above average range six times and has performed at an elite level at times as well. Awuzie during the 2025 season graded in the top ten among all qualified corners and during the 2021 season was graded as the second-best overall player at his position. Awuzie is an above average to a well above average starter and the down years he had can be attributed to a lack of health along with youth. If Awuzie is healthy then he is a borderline elite player at the position.
Rounding out Baltimore’s starting secondary is former first rounder Marlon Humphrey who is typically a very good player, but who is coming off a career worst year where he graded amongst the worst players at his position. Humphrey in every season before 2025 graded in the above average to well above average range among players at his position before grading poorly in 2025. The irony is that Humphrey actually had a career best year in 2024 where he graded in the top six among players at his position before having a career worst year in 2025 where he graded as amongst the worst players at his position. Humphrey undeniably has talent as he is a two-time first team all-pro and a four-time pro bowler. Perhaps his 2025 season was an aberration, and he can recapture strong form in 2026 under Baltimore’s revamped defensive coaching staff, as outside of 2025 Humphrey has never graded below average even once.
From a depth standpoint the Ravens have some notable names who will be expected to step up for the team in the case of injury, but who likely will not threaten for a starting job given how stacked the Ravens’ current starting secondary lineup is. Safety Jaylinn Hawkins had a career year in 2025 with the Patriots where he graded top 5 among all players at his position while logging over 800 snaps. Hawkins was amongst the best defensive players in the NFL last season which was a complete aberration of what he was before. In the five seasons prior, Hawkins failed to grade in the above average range even once before breaking out in 2025. Hawkins presents the Ravens with a very strong reserve player in the backend who is a viable starter if not a star. Former fourth rounder T.J Tampa has looked above average in limited NFL snaps thus far. In essential rookie snaps, Tampa has looked above average which means he is in line to become a very strong player in the NFL. Tampa remains a strong reserve secondary option for Baltimore. Baltimore has one high caliber reserve player at safety and another at corner while also having a few other players capable of being solid backups for the team.
The Ravens have arguably the premier secondary in the sport in my estimation and a breakdown of the Ravens’ secondary heading into 2026 can be found below.
2026 Projected Ravens Starting Secondary
LCB – Nate Wiggins – B to B+ so far as 2024 1st rounder, could break out in year 3 after very strong rookie season but sophomore slump
SS – Kyle Hamilton – A to A+, arguably the best overall safety in the NFL
FS – Malaki Starks – B to B+ so far as 2025 1st rounder, in line to build off strong rookie season
RCB – Chidobe Awuzie – B+ to A-
NB – Marlon Humphrey – B to B+, down year in ’25, could become A range level player if he bounces back
Notable Ravens’ Secondary Reserve Players
FS – Jaylinn Hawkins – B-, elite year in ’25 where he was amongst best safeties, consistently below average previously
CB – TJ Tampa – B-, above average in limited NFL snaps as 2024 4th rounder
