The Baltimore Ravens have been angling toward a replacement for NFL All-Pro cornerback Marlon Humphrey for the last year, and they may have finally found the answer with sparkplug rookie Chandler Rivers.
ESPN’s Benjamin Solak put Humphrey at the top of his list of NFL veterans on the hot seat who could be replaced by rookies in 2026, singling out Rivers, a 5th round pick (No. 162 overall ).
Rivers was 1 of a whopping 11 draft picks in 2026 for 1st year head coach Jesse Minter, the former Los Angeles Chargers defensive coordinator who took over after his former boss, John Harbaugh, was fired after 18 seasons.
“Humphrey has been a lifelong Raven and generally one of the most underappreciated defenders in football,” Solak wrote. ” … In three-cornerback sets last season, Humphrey bumped into the slot for the Ravens, playing 264 snaps at that alignment. Among slot defenders with at least 30 targets, he was the third-worst in coverage success rate. The Ravens need a better nickel option, and that’s Chandler Rivers, the fourth-rounder out of Duke. An undersized but feisty jitterbug cut from the same cloth as D’Angelo Ponds (now with the Jets), Rivers is exactly the sort of player who excels as a 10-year NFL slot corner. If he hits, he bumps Humphrey back outside, where the veteran was much stronger last season (61.5% coverage success rate relative to the 46.9% he posted inside).”
Rivers Represents Incredible Savings vs. Humphrey
If Rivers, 5-foot-9 and 185 pounds, can actually find a way into the lineup, he’ll represent a pretty incredible savings for the Ravens on a 4-year, $4.72 million rookie contract.
Take that into comparison to the massive amount of money Humphrey is getting paid as he heads into the final season of the 5-year, $97.5 million contract extension he signed before the 2020 season. It’s a deal that will push his career earnings past the $120 million mark in 2026.
Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta has voiced nothing but support for Humphrey, a 1st round pick (No. 16 overall) in the 2017 NFL draft who is a 2-time NFL All-Pro and 4-time Pro Bowler due $19.25 million in 2026.
“Not necessarily,” DeCosta said when asked if he was planning to adjust Humphrey’s contract. “I do expect him to be on the team. I love Marlon.”
Chandler Rivers’ Draft Stock Dipped Slightly
It’s evident Rivers’ size cost him some money in the draft, where NFL draft analyst Lance Zierlein predicted he would be a 3rd or 4th round pick after he was an All-American and 2-time All-ACC pick at Duke.
Rivers did his part by performing well at the NFL scouting combine, running a 4.4-second 40-yard dash to go with a 39-inch vertical leap.
“Rivers was a productive, 45-game starter over his four seasons at Duke,” Zierlein wrote. “He competed hard when lined up outside but figures to scoot inside in the NFL due to his lack of size and length. He’s capable in zone or man coverages, utilizing good anticipation and short-area quickness, but he could struggle to contest big slot matchups. He’s willing in run support but might be too small to finish tackles at a pro rate. Rivers is football smart and rarely stacks mistakes. He should appeal to teams looking for a nickelback on Day 3.”
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