In today’s NFL, teams can’t have enough cornerbacks, and the more athletic, the better. The Baltimore Ravens found one when they selected former Alabama cornerback Marlon Humphrey with the No. 16 pick in the 2017 NFL draft.
Marlon Humphrey too intriguing at corner for Ravens to pass on
The former Crimson Tide defensive back struggles with the deep ball but has athleticism to spare.
Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
With 81 tackles, 13 pass breakups, 6.5 tackles for loss, five interceptions, three forced fumbles, and a touchdown in his two-year collegiate career, Humphrey was a key contributor on a Crimson Tide defense that was among the best in NCAA history.
Why did the Ravens pick Humphrey?
Humphrey’s athleticism stands out. A state champion high school hurdler and sprinter, Humphrey is one of the more physically talented cornerbacks in this year’s draft class. He also has the bloodline — his father, Bobby, was a former star Alabama running back and played for the Broncos and Dolphins. Humphrey possesses the requisite NFL size and ability teams covet at the cornerback position.
Physicality
On paper, Humphrey fits the mold of an ideal NFL cornerback. He has the proper height (6’0), arm length (32 1/4”), and speed (4.41-second 40-yard dash, 6.75-second 3-cone drill) teams desire.
On the field, Humphrey has fluid hips, fantastic speed, and a solid fundamental understanding of coverages and zone responsibilities. He’s a physical and competitive player who comes back strong after being beaten and attacks opponents, whether they’re receivers trying to block him downfield or ball carriers trying to evade a tackle.
Athleticism
“It’s a tough position Humphrey is in going into Thursday evening, because anybody who watches him at his best knows that he’s a Top 15 talent. His speed, his physicality, his intelligence make him a no-brainer for any GM looking to shore up their secondary. Yet, you can turn on the Ole Miss, Arkansas or Clemson games from this year (incidentally, the only three teams that passed for more than 300 yards on the Tide defense in 2016) and you’ll see definitive holes in Humphrey’s game. Even against LSU, the lone pass over 20 yards for the Tigers’ offense was gotten off Humphrey.” — Read More at Team Speed Kills
Not many cornerback prospects can manage to run the 40-yard dash in just over 4.4 seconds, let alone finish among the top eight in three different drills at the NFL Combine. With an 11-foot broad jump, it’s safe to say Humphrey won’t be outleaped, and coupled with his height, Humphrey should be able to contest passes against the NFL’s biggest and most physical receivers.
Humphrey is still raw, but his pedigree should help him adjust in the NFL. Humphrey is the latest Alabama first-round corner, following in the footsteps of Dee Milliner, Dre Kirkpatrick, and Kareem Jackson. It’s now up to the Ravens to ensure the young cornerback ends up like the recently paid Kirkpatrick and Jackson rather than like Milliner, who is now a free agent.
Are there any concerns with Humphrey?
Humphrey’s rawness works both ways, good and bad. Fortunately for the Ravens, the young cornerback has plenty of room to grow.
The biggest knock on Humphrey is his tendency to give up big plays. And while his competitiveness reaches a new level afterwards, the Ravens will certainly hope he can maintain that edge while learning how to prevent those huge gains.
Humphrey had some apparent struggles in press coverage, particularly with hand placement and footwork. The defensive back has very quick feet, but his footwork can get careless — it’s something he’ll need to work on at the next level.
A troubling statistic for Humphrey? He allowed more than 19 yards per completion during his time in Tuscaloosa.
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