Ravens select Alabama CB Marlon Humphrey with No. 16 overall pick in NFL draft – Baltimore Sun

The Ravens hadnt taken a cornerback in the first three rounds in five straight drafts, a fact team officials attributed to their insistence on sticking to their board and selecting the best player available. With cornerbacks at a premium in the pass-happy NFL, theyve gone far earlier in recent drafts than the Ravens were prepared to select them.

But Ravens assistant general manager Eric DeCosta predicted this draft would be different because of how many talented cornerbacks were available. And when the Ravens were on the clock with the 16th overall pick Thursday night, their board stipulated that it was time to add another piece to their revamped secondary.

Eschewing an opportunity to bring in a linebacker or another target for quarterback Joe Flacco, the Ravens selected Alabama cornerback Marlon Humphrey, a relatively surprising pick given who else was available.

Three other higher-regarded Alabama players defensive tackle Jonathan Allen, tight end O.J. Howard and middle linebacker Reuben Foster were all available when the Ravens decided to take Humphrey.

Humphrey, the Ravens first-round selection, is the son of former NFL running back Bobby Humphrey, a first-round pick by the Denver Broncos in the 1989 supplemental draft.

A two-year starter for the Crimson Tide, Marlon Humphrey had five interceptions and 19 pass breakups in his college career. While there are some questions about his instincts and ball skills, Humphrey is 6 feet and 197 pounds and has the prototypical size, length and speed that teams are looking for in cornerbacks.

Humphrey, an Alabama native and a member of the Crimson Tides national championship-winning team in 2016, was the second cornerback off the board, following Ohio States Marshon Lattimore who went 11th to the New Orleans Saints.

It was well-documented that the Ravens would draft a cornerback, but it was expected to happen on either day two or three of the draft because of how much depth was available at the position. Evaluators have said that this is one of the deepest cornerback classes in draft history.

The Ravens had already signed veteran Brandon Carr in March to join top corner Jimmy Smith and 2016 fourth-round pick Tavon Young, who had a strong rookie year. However, the selection of Humphrey underscores their recent issues at the position as the Ravens have struggled to keep Smith and other cornerbacks healthy and several of their other cover guys have played poorly.

With the additions of Humphrey and Carr, the Ravens are as deep at cornerback as theyve been in a while. Behind their top four, they have three young corners who they believe have potential: Maurice Canady, a sixth-round pick last year, Robertson Daniel and Sheldon Price

Humphrey is the fourth cornerback the Ravens have taken in the first round in team history, following Duane Starks in 1998, Chris McAlister in 1999 and Smith in 2011. After taking Smith with the 27th overall pick, the Ravens had drafted six cornerbacks but all of them were taken in the fourth round or later.

Continuing their offseason secondary overhaul, the Ravens have now added Humprey, Carr and Tony Jefferson, arguably the top free-agent safety available. They re-signed safety Lardarius Webb, a 16-game starter last year, after releasing him earlier in the offseason. Cornerback Jerraud Powers retired and the Ravens moved on from safeties Kendrick Lewis, Matt Elam and Marqueston Huff, and cornerbacks Shareece Wright and Jumal Rolle.

One of the NFL cornerbacks that Humphrey is often compared to is Smith, now his teammate. At his best, Humphrey is extremely aggressive in press coverage at the line of scrimmage and is able to use his size and strength to knock receivers off their routes or funnel them toward the sideline where they cant make a play.

He posted a 4.41 in the 40-yard dash at the NFL scouting combine so he has the necessary speed to stay with receivers on deep routes, and he also has the acceleration to break on balls quickly. While playing two years in the Southeastern Conference he redshirted as a freshman Humphrey was tested by some of the top receivers in the country.

Humphrey is also a physical player who fights through blocks and is a willing tackler both down the field and taking on running backs at the line of scrimmage.

Humphrey did fight consistency issues at times and some scouts have expressed concern about breakdowns in his technique and eye discipline. His ball skills, an area the Ravens have focused on with their defensive backs in recent years to try to improve the number of forced turnovers, also dont stand out.

However, the Ravens obviously feel comfortable that his skills will translate well to the NFL, and hell provide even more depth to a defense that theyve spent considerable resources trying to improve this offseason.

They are also still expected to add a pass rusher to the group during the draft. The Ravens have six more picks in the three-day draft which continues with rounds two and three Friday. The Ravens have one pick in the second round and two in the third. Rounds four through seven will be on Saturday.

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Ravens select Alabama CB Marlon Humphrey with No. 16 overall pick in NFL draft - Baltimore Sun