Ravens Exercise Fifth Year Option for Marlon Humphrey
The Baltimore Ravens get Marlon Humphrey through 2021.
In an effort to ensure the Ravens’ defense remains stacked for the 2020 season, the Ravens have picked up Humphrey’s fifth year option. While the option in the past has guaranteed that the fifth year is for injuries only, the new NFLPA Collective Bargaining Agreement negotiated for that clause to go away.
Last season, Humphrey made the Pro Bowl and All Pro Teams after starting in almost every game. During that season he had three interceptions, three fumble recoveries (two of which were recovered for touchdowns), two forced fumbles, and 65 tackles. Humphrey also led the Ravens defense for most solo tackles with 53.
It is not shocking the Ravens want to keep their guy, as he is quickly becoming one of the stand out corners in the NFL. Humphrey’s current contract has him making $2.08 million dollars a year. For his fifth year, his salary will be an average of the third through twenty-fifth highest paid corners in the league. For context, last season the average was roughly $10 million. Ravens corner Marcus Peters currently makes $14 million with similar productivity to Humphrey, so the Ravens are getting a bargain.
The Ravens organization is smart to exercise this option, as it helps keep their salary cap at a manageable level for the 2020 season. This also ensures that he will still be paid even if he gets injured. If he continues having seasons similar to his stellar 2019, Humphrey is poised for his next contract to be a significant increase. Ravens fans need to hope by that time we can afford it.
Humphrey, who played for the University of Alabama and is an Alabama native, really seems to be enjoying his time in Baltimore. During the NFL Draft, local seafood favorite Jimmy’s Seafood let Humphrey take over their Twitter account, and he had a lot of fun with it. Based on his Twitter account, he seems to enjoy his interactions with various fans. I am sure those fans are happy we are keeping Humphrey through 2021 but hopefully longer.
