Ravens CB Marlon Humphrey is No.86 on the NFL Network’s Top 100 Players of 2020 list
The 2017 first-round pick out of Alabama was one of many Baltimore Ravens that broke out in a big way in 2019 and he was first of league-high seven players that hail from the Charm City to be revealed on the NFL Network’s Top 100 Players of 2020 list at No.86.
While that still seems kind of low for a player that was one of just four cornerbacks to make the AP All-Pro First Team, it is still not that bad for his first appearance after not making the list following his first two seasons in the league. Humphrey has been an ascending young talent but in 2019 he established himself as one of the best defenders in the league and a pair of his division rivals shared their thoughts on him in clips from interviews that were aired.
“He has every intangible,” said Cincinnati Bengal receiver Jon Ross. “I don’t think his game has too much weakness. The guy brings it each and every week, plays with a lot of confidence and that’s what makes him special.”
“I see a great player in him,” said Cleveland Browns tight end David Njoku. “If you’re smart and have great ability, the sky is the limit for you because you can play fast and react quicker.”
Humphrey is renown and praised for being one of the most physical corners in the league that willing to tackle and excels at stuff the run and making stops at the line of scrimmage, in the backfield and in the open field with a ball carrier charging towards him with a full head of steam. When he was lined up in the slot at times last season, he would also help set the edge in the run game as good as any stand-up linebacker.
“He’s a physical tackler, said Humphrey’s fellow 2019 All-Pro first-teamer Tre’Davious White of the Buffalo Bills. “You’d think he’s a middle linebacker the way he goes up there and fits the run.”
White also acknowledged Humphrey’s ability to make game-changing and victory clinching plays when he brought up his clutch forced fumble of Pittsburgh Steelers Pro Bowl receiver Juju Smith Schuster in Week Five of last season that sealed the game for the Ravens in overtime.
Humphrey not only punched the ball out of Smith Schuster’s grasp after the wideout picked up enough yardage for a first down and then some when he crossed over to Baltimore’s side of the field, but he also got up and recovered the loose ball before it could bounce out of bounds and remain in the Steelers’ possession if not for his heads up play.
Last season was Humphrey’s first as a full-time starter and he paired up with fellow 2019 All-Pro Marcus Peters, who wasn’t revealed on premiere night but still could be one of the three remaining Ravens yet to be revealed, midway through the season to form one of best duos in the league in the second half of the season. Now that the two will have a whole season playing across from each other and he has another year of experience under his belt, the sky could truly be the limit for Humphrey going forward.
