Man, sometimes football just kicks you in the teeth when you least expect it, but especially Ravens fans with the team’s history with preseason injuries. One minute you’re feeling good about your depth chart, the next minute you’re watching a promising rookie get carted off the field with what turns out to be a season-ending knee injury.
That’s exactly what happened to the Baltimore Ravens when sixth-round pick Bilhal Kone went down in their preseason opener against Indianapolis.
Now, before Ravens fans start hitting the panic button, let’s be real here. Kone wasn’t expected to be a day-one starter or anything. But in a league where depth is everything and injuries pile up, losing any promising young player stings.
It stings even more when you realize the Ravens also placed fellow rookie cornerback Robert Longerbeam on injured reserve just days later. Two rookie corners gone before they could even show what they’ve got. That’s not just bad luck; that’s a hole in your roster that needs filling.
Why Rasul Douglas Makes Perfect Sense
Enter Rasul Douglas, the journeyman cornerback who’s still sitting on his couch while other guys are grinding through training camp. At 30 years old (he’ll turn 31 before the season starts), Douglas isn’t some young stud looking to break into the league. He’s a proven veteran who knows what it takes to win at the highest level.
And here’s the kicker: this guy has a Super Bowl ring. Douglas was part of that magical Philadelphia Eagles squad in 2017 that shocked the world by beating Tom Brady and the Patriots. As a rookie third-rounder, he started five games and picked off two passes during that championship run. That kind of experience doesn’t grow on trees.
Since leaving Philly, Douglas has been like that reliable utility player every team needs, bouncing between Carolina, Las Vegas, Houston, Arizona, Green Bay, and, most recently, Buffalo. He’s not flashy, but he gets the job done. Last season with the Bills, he started 15 games and deflected six passes. Not spectacular, but solid.
The Ravens’ front office has to be looking at this situation and thinking, “Why not?” They’ve got the cap space to make it work, and more importantly, they’ve got something most teams don’t: a legitimate shot at hoisting the Lombardi Trophy in February.
Ravens’ Championship Window is Wide Open
Here’s where Baltimore has a massive advantage in the Douglas sweepstakes. This isn’t some rebuilding team asking a veteran to come in and mentor young players while they figure things out. The Ravens are stacked, loaded, and ready to make a serious run at their third Super Bowl title.
With Lamar Jackson in his prime and that defense looking nasty on paper despite losing two rookies, this team is built to win now. For a guy like Douglas, who’s bounced around the league and tasted championship glory once before, the opportunity to potentially get another ring has to be tempting as hell.
Look at their secondary situation right now. They’ve got second-year corner Nate Wiggins, who showed flashes as a rookie but is still unproven. Then there’s the wild card, Jaire Alexander, the former Green Bay All-Pro who got cut loose despite being only 28 years old and coming off a massive contract extension.
That Alexander situation is fascinating, by the way. You don’t just release a two-time All-Pro in his prime to save cap space unless something else is going on. Maybe he’s dealing with injury concerns, maybe there were locker room issues, who knows? But it creates uncertainty in Baltimore’s secondary that Douglas could help stabilize.
The Money Makes Sense Too for a Bounce-Back
From a financial standpoint, this move is a no-brainer. Douglas has earned about $25 million over his eight-year career, with most of that coming from a three-year, $21 million deal with Green Bay back in 2022. He’s not looking for another massive payday at this stage of his career.
A one-year prove-it deal in the $4-5 million range would probably get Douglas’ attention, especially with the promise of meaningful playoff snaps and a legitimate championship chase. For the Ravens, that’s pocket change compared to what they could get in return, a savvy veteran who knows how to play in big games and won’t crumble under pressure.
Here’s something interesting that Pro Football Focus pointed out earlier this year: they had Douglas on their list of players poised for a bounce-back season in 2025. Yeah, his 2024 numbers weren’t pretty (53.9 overall grade, ranked 102nd out of 116 qualifying corners), but sometimes players have down years that don’t reflect their true ability.
Douglas has shown throughout his career that he can be a reliable contributor when put in the right situation. Maybe Buffalo wasn’t the perfect fit. Maybe he was dealing with some nagging injuries. Maybe he just had one of those seasons where nothing went right. It happens to the best of them.
The Ravens’ coaching staff, led by John Harbaugh, has a track record of getting the most out of veteran players who others might have written off. Remember when they brought in guys like Steve Smith Sr. and Anquan Boldin at the tail end of their careers? Those moves worked out pretty damn well.
Same can be said about Samuel Jr. and Gilmore
If you’re a Ravens fan reading this, you should be cautiously optimistic about the Douglas possibility. It could also apply to other free agent cornerbacks currently on the market, including All-Pro veteran Stephon Gilmore and a young star who is dealing with an injury, Asante Samuel Jr.
The 34-year-old last played for the Minnesota Vikings, but is still open to “the right situation“. Gilmore could be in play and be a free agent signing potentially down the pipeline.
After a down year despite six interceptions in his four-year career with the Los Angeles Chargers, the 25-year-old Samuel Jr. is still on the market. He still can be worth a one-year, “prove-it” type deal.
Corners Tampa and Awuzie Provide Key Depth
With Marlon Humphrey, Chidobe Awuzie, and T.J. Tampa also in the mix, along with the aforementioned Wiggins and Alexander, the Ravens would have decent depth if they added Douglas. Not championship-level depth necessarily, but enough to weather some storms during the regular season.
The real test would come in January and February, when the lights are brightest and every play matters. That’s when having a guy like Douglas, someone who’s been there before and won’t get overwhelmed by the moment, becomes invaluable.
With two rookie corners already done for the year and question marks surrounding their current depth, bringing in a championship-tested veteran just makes too much sense to ignore. The Ravens have built something special in Baltimore. Adding Douglas, or another free agent corner, might just be the insurance policy they need to make sure that the championship window stays wide open.
