Marlon Humphrey had some of his best seasons playing inside cornerback, and that is where the Ravens would like to see him often moving forward.
Baltimore's signing of cornerback Chidobe Awuzie offsets the loss of Brandon Stephens (Jets) in free agency and gives the Ravens a strong trio and more flexibility as he joins Humphrey and Nate Wiggins.
"I love Marlon anywhere," Harbaugh said Monday at the league meetings. "I like him on the field, but I do like him inside. He's a game changer in there. Nobody plays like Marlon. There's no nickel who plays the way Marlon plays in the slot. He can play outside with the best of them, but I don't think there's anybody like Marlon in the slot."
According to Pro Football Focus, Humphrey played 500 snaps in the slot last season and 316 outside. He turned in a career-high six interceptions and was named a first-team All Pro.
Humphrey also played more snaps inside than outside in 2019 and 2020. He was named a first-team All-Pro in 2019 and forced a league-high eight fumbles in 2020. Humphrey went back to playing more outside from 2021-2023.
The Ravens released slot cornerback Arthur Maulet earlier this offseason after he was limited to just three games last year, creating another opening on the inside. Harbaugh hinted that safety Ar'Darius Washington could help fill that role.
"Ar'Darius can drop down into the nickel spot. So, we've got answers," Harbaugh said.
Washington was a key player for Baltimore's defensive turnaround last season, and adding another safety in free agency or the draft could provide versatility to move Washington and Kyle Hamilton around.
Harbaugh likes the options the Ravens to replace Stephens.
"We got 'Chido' [Awuzie], and that was a huge signing for us. He's been one of the highest-ranked corners when he's been healthy," Harbaugh said. "So, our goal is to get him back out there, get him healthy, really work with all the soft tissue stuff, and try to do the best we can to bring him back to where he [get to] his high level of play, so he should help us.
"Then we have T.J. Tampa [Jr.] in the mix. I think T.J. is going to take a big step. Health is big for him, too. And then, Jalyn Armour-Davis is another guy with the health. So, Jalyn has always been talented, and he's always played well when he has been out there. So, those are all guys in the conversation. … We could definitely add a guy in the draft, too."
John Harbaugh: Ronnie Stanley Will 'Continue to Ascend'
The Ravens' biggest move this offseason came before free agency when they agreed to terms on a deal with franchise left tackle Ronnie Stanley.
The reported three-year, $60 million contract is slated to keep Stanley in Baltimore through his age-33 season, and Harbaugh thinks the best is yet to come for the two-time Pro Bowler.
"I expect Ronnie to even continue to ascend – not just back to where he was pre-injury, but past that now," Harbaugh said. "And I just love his mindset, his maturity, his work ethic, his determination to be a legacy-type player. I think that's really what he wants to accomplish right now, and that's really important for our team."
Stanley was one of the best left tackles in the game as he entered his mid-twenties, but a major ankle injury and other injuries hampered him from 2020-2023. After a terrific season in which he once again proved his talent when healthy, the Ravens have a core piece of their offensive line.
"I feel good about the O-line right now, today. Like I said, we could play with five starters," Harbaugh said. "We have competition even there, but we can use a couple more guys, too. And we'll be looking to bolster the depth but also bolster the competition in the O-line.
"But bringing Ronnie back was a huge part of that. We couldn't say that if Ronnie wasn't coming back. If Ronnie had decided to go elsewhere, we would've had to have addressed that in a big way."
Harbaugh Expects Trenton Simpson to Start
Inside linebacker Trenton Simpson won the starting spot next to Roquan Smith last season, buthe was relieved of his starting duties over the final six games as the Ravens turned to veterans.
However, Harbaugh visions Simpson being the starter again in Year 3.
"Trenton Simpson, I expect him to be the starting early-down WILL [linebacker]," Harbaugh said. "We do a lot on passing downs with dime [packages] and different kind of personnel groups in the field. He can continue to grow into that.
"I think he's going to take a big step this year. I remember Patrick Queen took a big step his third year, as well, so that would be probably our expectation. He's working hard. He's already in the building every single day, he's watching film on his own, he's in phenomenal shape."
The two players that helped replace Simpson last season, Malik Harrison (Steelers) and Chris Board (Giants), both departed in free agency, and special teamer Kristian Welch signed with the Packers. While Harbaugh anticipates Simpson will be the starter, he said the team will look to bring in depth to help on special teams and compete.
"I feel great about the linebacker position," Harbaugh said. "I think we do need some guys. I mean, we lost a bunch of guys, so we've got to replace those guys. I think we've got some good young guys coming up. William Kwenkeu, nobody knows about him, but he played two games last year. I'm kind of excited [about] him as a special teams guy and a growing, developing linebacker."
Keaton Mitchell Is 'Going to Be on a Whole Other Level' This Spring
After suffering a serious knee injury at the end of a promising rookie season, running back Keaton Mitchell returned to action midway through the 2024 season. The former undrafted free agent only saw 15 carries and 36 offensive snaps, but Harbaugh sees more ahead.
"I do think [Mitchell] has been on schedule, he's been on track," Harbaugh said. "That was a really tough injury. So, the fact that he got back when he did was, to me, almost miraculous that he was out there playing at all."
Mitchell burst onto the scene as a rookie, rushing for 396 yards while averaging 8.4 yards per carry. It was an explosive debut season, and Harbaugh thinks he can be even better two years removed from the injury.
"I'm almost certain, as much as you can be sure, he's going to be [on] a whole other level coming back in the spring and then again into training camp, because he is going to be a year and a half out of that deal," Harbaugh said.
