Make room for Marlon Humphrey, the newest of elite corners

When you think of elite cornerbacks in the NFL everyone knows the usual suspects. The Patrick Patterson’s, Richard Sherman’s, Stephon Gilmore’s of the world are all well renowned for their skills in coverage and turnovers. But if you haven’t heard yet, there is a new cornerback that has been quietly been making a name for himself over the last two years. His name is Marlon Humphrey from the Baltimore Ravens, and soon enough the nation will remember that name.  

Humphrey is a former first-round pick of the Ravens in 2017. His career stats over the last two and a half seasons don’t seem that like much (102 tackles, 3 forced fumbles and fumble recoveries, 35 pass deflections, 6 interceptions, and 2 defensive touchdowns). Yet the stats don’t tell the full story, Humphrey has been gradually developing into one of the best cover corners in the league. For the last season and a half, he has been shadowing the number one receivers due to the injury of Jimmy Smith and has exceeded expectations time and time again. AJ Green, Michael Thomas, Tyreek Hill, Antonio Brown, Mike Evans, and Keenan Allen all have been held in check when number 44 lines up across from them. He is a prototypical cornerback for the new age; big, fast, and physical with great length. 

Just this year, he has shadowed OBJ, Tyreek Hill, Larry Fitzgerald, Juju Smith-Schuster, Julian Edelman and Tyler Lockett and only given up a catch rate of 51.6%, which ranks 7th among cornerbacks in the league. He is only allowing a passer rating of 75.1 when targeted which puts him among the top 10 in a league, where coverage skills matter. While having a coverage rating of +34.4% which ranks 9th among all cornerbacks. 

Not only has he displayed the cover skills coveted by many teams, but he is also finding himself to be a magnet for the football this year. He has produced two interceptions, nine pass deflections, two forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries on the season (two FR went for touchdowns). Only nine games into this season and he is showing the flashes of greatness in which the Ravens saw when he was drafted 17th overall. 

His newfound pull on the football is also showing in the most critical times of the games. His game-altering strip and recovery of Juju in the overtime period in Week 5 set up the game-winning field goal for Justin Tucker. His 18-yard scoop and score against the Seahawks were the game-sealing edge needed to put the game out of reach. As was his 70-yard scoop and score against the Patriots which came as the Patriots were marching down the field to take the lead. That score setup up a lead the Ravens wouldn’t relinquish for the rest of the game. 

He is receiving high praise from his teammates as well. They’ve seen his work ethic and his time he dedicates to his craft finally paying off for the league to notice. “Marlon’s just living right,” 6x Pro Bowl safety Earl Thomas said after the win against New England. “He’s having an All-Pro year.” Outside linebacker Matthew Judon stated, “Marlon has been, week in and week out, our best player.” 

That kind of praise is what people are starting to see as the norm for the cornerback.  With matchups against DeAndre Hopkins, Emmanuel Sanders, Odell Beckham Jr., and Juju Smith-Schuster still on the docket, he can further cement his position among the elite in the NFL. By seasons end, we just might be discussing our top three corners in the league and have every reason to hear Marlon’s name among them.

-By: Darren Braxton

Writer/Podcaster