Ravens Linked to Former Defensive Player of the Year to Address Major Roster Need

The Baltimore Ravens, long known for their dominant defenses, showed signs of decline last season—particularly in pass defense. They finished 31st in the league in that category, largely due to a lack of depth at cornerback. To address this need, analyst Sterling Xie has pointed to a potential solution: signing former Defensive Player of the Year, Stephon Gilmore.

Xie believes Gilmore would bring much-needed stability to Baltimore’s secondary. “A veteran like Stephon Gilmore would be a starting-level player who would allow the Ravens to avoid depending on an unknown, such as Jalyn Armour-Davis or T.J. Tampa,” he wrote. Gilmore, who has experience in man-coverage systems, could fit well in a Ravens defense that played man at the ninth-highest rate in 2024.

Despite being 34, Gilmore remains effective. In 2024 with the Minnesota Vikings, he appeared in 15 games, recording 56 tackles, one interception, and nine passes defended. He also allowed just 7.1 yards per target—further proof he can still contribute at a high level.

A five-time Pro Bowler and two-time First-Team All-Pro, Gilmore earned Defensive Player of the Year honors in 2019 with the Patriots. While he’s no longer at his peak, his leadership and reliable play could be invaluable to a contending team like the Ravens.

Baltimore could likely sign Gilmore to a one-year deal similar to what the Vikings offered him last August. Whether they move forward with that option remains to be seen, but the fit appears to be a natural one.