Is the 2025 Ravens Secondary the Best in Franchise History?

On paper, the Ravens' projected secondary for the 2025 NFL Season seems to be the best in the entire NFL. Built with five first-round picks, a second-rounder, and other late-round selections who are proving their potential in the offseason, the Ravens have the pieces for success but are now tasked with completing the ultimate goal. Can they get over the hump and finally make it to the Super Bowl? Looking at a team with Kyle Hamilton, Marlon Humphrey, Nate Wiggins, newly acquired free agents Chidobe Awuzie and Jaire Alexander, combined with recently drafted safety Malaki Starks, I asked myself whether this is the best secondary to play for the Ravens since their inaugural season in 1996?

My first thought was, if Ed Reed were on the team, what would be considered the best secondary fielded in Baltimore? Playing from 2002 to 2012, the Hall of Famer played with other legends enshrined in Canton. Ray Lewis is on that list, but from 2002 to 2008, Reed played alongside either Rod Woodson, Deion Sanders, or Chris McAlister in the secondary. McAlister will most likely remain on the outside looking in at earning his yellow jacket. The 10th overall pick in the 1999 NFL Draft played at a high level in his 10 years in Baltimore, recording an interception every year wearing purple and black. Despite having a few strong players from 1998 to 2008, I would still claim that the best was yet to come for the Ravens’ secondary.

The 2012 Baltimore Ravens did not have the best defense in the league, nor did they have a ton of future Hall of Famers outside of Reed, Lewis, and Terrell Suggs. However, the Ravens did turn a handful of players into household names that are very familiar when addressing the second Super Bowl in Ravens history. The Ravens stole Cary Williams off the Titans’ practice squad in 2009, where a few years later, he and Reed would lead the team with four interceptions and one pick-six each. The duo would also have 17 and 15 defended passes, respectively. Hard-hitting safety Bernard Pollard led the entire team with 98 tackles, which ranked seventh among strong safeties and 15th among all defensive backs in the NFL. Pollard was also responsible for forcing the first of many turnovers in the AFC Championship win over the Patriots. Corey Graham was third in tackles and defended passes among the Baltimore defensive backs but was instrumental in the Divisional Round Mile High Miracle, recording two interceptions against Peyton Manning. The first was returned for a touchdown, and the second set up Justin Tucker’s game-winning field goal in double overtime.

Other contributors on the Ravens’ secondary in 2012 included James Ihedigbo, Chykie Brown, and Jimmy Smith, with the latter two players seeing more playing time after Lardarius Webb tore his ACL in Week Six. Smith was targeted on back-to-back plays in the Super Bowl, allowing nothing, securing the win, and an amazing send-off for Ray Lewis, possibly the greatest Raven to ever play football. Unfortunately, that secondary would be short-lived as Reed, Williams, and Pollard would leave Baltimore after the win, and Graham, Ihedigbo, and Brown would depart the team in less than two years after becoming champions.

The two teams that I contend can challenge the 2012 Baltimore secondary are the 2019 and 2023 Ravens. Both squads had no remaining pieces from the 2012 team. However, Baltimore had the formula to succeed. No one can replace Ed Reed, but fans have seen people try. Players like Eric Weddle who was a Pro Bowler in every year of his three seasons in Baltimore, Earl Thomas III was voted to a Pro Bowl in his only season with the Ravens, and 2022 first-round pick Kyle Hamilton has flown around the field since coming into the league, similar to how the 2004 Defensive Player of the Year played, and is only getting better. Other defensive backs like Marcus Peters, Chuck Clark, DeShon Elliott, and Geno Stone were players who heavily impacted the overall success in the secondary and frequently hurt an opposing team's chance at driving down the field.

The 2019 Ravens, who had a 14-2 record and a first-round bye, were propelled by a record-breaking rushing attack led by unanimous MVP Lamar Jackson. However, the defense still ranked third best in points against, fourth in yards allowed, sixth in passing yards allowed, and second in passing touchdowns allowed. The 2023 squad was a different story as it was the first full year with Roquan Smith doing his best Ray Lewis impersonation. The 2023 Ravens defense achieved the first Defensive Triple Crown in the Super Bowl era, leading the league in the fewest points allowed, most sacks, and most takeaways, almost achieved by the 2000 Ravens. In terms of pass defense, the Ravens had a slight step backward compared to 2019 but still dominated in every facet of the game, ranking third in interceptions. second in touchdowns allowed and sixth in passing yards allowed.

Going into 2025, the defense has not had much roster turnover compared to other years. Humphrey is coming off a career year, Wiggins is developing nicely after a strong rookie season, Hamilton got some help with a 2025 first-round selection in Malaki Starks, and to replace Brandon Stephens, the Ravens brought in Chidobe Awuzie and Jaire Alexander in free agency. As of right now, the Ravens' secondary is built with five first-round picks, a second-round selection in Awuzie, and a handful of day-three or undrafted players who are reportedly developing well, like T.J. Tampa, Beau Brade, and more.

All this information should be taken with a grain of salt, as everything could hit the fan come Week One. The true takeaway after reading all of this is that, on paper, this may be the best secondary that the Ravens have ever fielded. Granted, there is no Ed Reed, Chris McAlister, Duane Starks, or Bernard Pollard. However, Baltimore does have Hamilton, Humphrey, Alexander, Wiggins, and Malaki Starks, which gives fans something new to look forward to as we inch closer to the start of this upcoming NFL season.