Marlon Humphrey had an impressive season with the Baltimore Ravens, but his strong performance may not be enough to prevent him from being released in the offseason. The Ravens’ cornerback, a first-round pick in the 2017 NFL Draft, has been one of the top cornerbacks in the league since his debut, earning four Pro Bowl selections and two First-Team All-Pro honors, including one in 2024. In his 24-year-old season, Humphrey started all 16 games, recording six interceptions, 15 passes defended, five tackles-for-loss, and a solid 79.0 PFF grade, ranking 6th among 118 eligible players.
Despite these impressive stats, Bleacher Report suggests the Ravens may decide to move on from Humphrey due to his high $25.4 million cap hit, especially since releasing him could save them $12.7 million. While the Ravens could extend or restructure his contract, doing so comes with risks since Humphrey is approaching his 30s. If the Ravens cut him, teams like the Carolina Panthers or Los Angeles Chargers might be interested in signing him.
The Carolina Panthers, who spent much of 2024 evaluating Bryce Young as their potential franchise quarterback, are now focusing on improving their defense after ranking as the NFL’s worst in 2024. The Panthers could greatly benefit from adding Humphrey, who, despite being near the end of his prime, could strengthen their secondary for the next few seasons. With a weak NFC South, the addition of Humphrey and another pass rusher could help the Panthers contend for a division title.
The Los Angeles Chargers, on the other hand, face uncertainty in their cornerback group for 2025. While rookie Tarheeb Still and former first-round pick Kristian Fulton had strong seasons, Los Angeles may need to prepare for the possibility of one or both players regressing. If Humphrey becomes available, the Chargers could sign him to form one of the top cornerback trios in the league. Even in a more realistic scenario, Humphrey would provide a reliable lockdown cornerback while Still and Fulton compete for the second starting spot.
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