Ravens DC Hints at Secondary Rotation

When the Baltimore Ravens signed two-time Pro Bowl cornerback Jaire Alexander during the summer, it was widely assumed that ninth-year veteran Chidobe Awuzie, who they brought in less than three months earlier in the spring, would naturally get bumped down the depth chart.

According to second-year defensive coordinator Zach Orr, that couldn't be any further from the truth. When asked how close the competition for the No. 3 cornerback spot is to being the first man up to line up across from second-year pro Nate Wiggins when four-time Pro Bowler Marlon Humphrey moves inside to the slot between the two seasoned pros, he laughed at the notion that it's a cut-and-dry either-or situation with his response.

"It's funny, because both of those guys know they're going to play," Orr said Monday. "They're going to play, they're going to be used. You're going to see those guys out there at the same time. So, I think that's a decision if coach [John Harbaugh] wants to make it, but I'm not really looking at it as a competition. They're guys that are going to play for us, so I'm not looking at it as 'ones' or 'twos.' We both know those guys are going to be out there for us when it's time to kick it and get rolling."

On Saturday, Ravens senior defensive assistant and secondary coach Chuck Pagano praised Awuzie for his high football intelligence and physical stature, as well as expressed a belief that he could play a versatile role that could include both safety and even dime linebacker in heavy defensive back sub packages.

"He's a quick study. He's played for a long, long time, so he understands. He knows how to play. He's always in the right spot," Pagano said. "[If] you get in a pinch, you can't have enough guys like 'Chido' that have versatility, position flexibility like that. So, that's a bonus for us for sure."

With the additions of Alexander and Awuzie in free agency, selection of rookie safety Malaki Starks in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft and the return of established starters like Wiggins, Humphrey and All Pro safety Kyle Hamilton, the Ravens boast the most talented secondary in the league. Strong arguments were made that they had a similar claim ahead of last season, before a disastrous start quickly dispelled them.

Heading into the 2025 season, Orr thinks the Ravens' revamped secondary is in a "really good spot" as they continue to establish and build up their chemistry on and off the field.