When you look at the Baltimore Ravens, their secondary is easily the strongest unit on their team. It may be one of the more elite units in the NFL. But Baltimore is not satisfied, as they select USC cornerback Iman Marshall in the fourth round (No. 127 overall).
You’re probably wondering why the Ravens went in this direction when they have cornerbacks Marlon Humphrey, Jimmy Smith, Brandon Carr and Tavon Young. Well, you can never have enough good corners and Baltimore has been injury prone over the years in the secondary.
Marshall could potentially provide an excellent insurance policy.
According to Pro Football Focus, Marshall allowed the lowest reception rate among draft-eligible cornerbacks.
That’s pretty good.
At 6-foot-1, weighing 207 pounds, Marshall provides pretty good size and uses his size well in press coverage, which is something Baltimore’s coaching staff looks for in a corner. If you are a cornerback, being able to play press coverage for the Ravens is a must.
In terms of speed, Marshall runs a 4.45-second 40-yard dash, according to Ravens’ director of scouting Joe Hortiz.
While Marshall has some positives, he does have some negatives too, especially in the penalties category. Over the course of the last two seasons, he committed 16 penalties. He’ll need to clean that up immediately with the more disciplined Ravens’ defense.
In addition, Marshall hasn’t recorded an interception over the last two seasons. But with Ravens free safety Earl Thomas in the fold, he could help Marshall become a better playmaker.
