Godwin ObajeThe Baltimore Ravens are gearing up for the 2025 NFL draft, and one player who has caught their attention is Notre Dame’s Benjamin Morrison. According to Mason Cameron of Pro Football Focus, Morrison is a “natural” fit for the Ravens’ favorite defensive scheme.
The Ravens ran a top-10 rate of Cover 1 in 2024, and Morrison’s skills as a long, smooth-moving man cornerback make him an attractive prospect. Cameron believes the Ravens could make excellent use of Morrison’s skill set, particularly in their Cover 1 defense.
Morrison’s physical style makes him ideally suited to press coverage. As Billy M pointed out, Morrison needs to be “allowed to bump and run.” His movement in man coverage and feel stand out, but there are concerns about his health following hip surgery last October.
Despite these concerns, Morrison has shown the ability to shut down the most dangerous opposing receivers. According to Mike Berardino of the South Bend Tribune, Morrison “shown the ability to shut down the most dangerous opposing receivers, including Marvin Harrison Jr. in the 2023 home loss to Ohio State.”
The Ravens are still searching for CB solutions, and Morrison could be a potential fit. They drafted Nate Wiggins a year ago, but he was inconsistent enough as a rookie to prompt the Ravens into trading for All-Pro Tre’Davious White at midseason. With White not being brought back in free agency, the Ravens are headed into the draft with depleted numbers.
Head coach John Harbaugh seems confident in the team’s current cornerback situation, but general manager Eric DeCosta will likely look to add a corner via the draft. Selecting a defensive back 27th overall might be too early, but the second round, when the Ravens own the 59th pick, could be a good opportunity to snag Morrison.
As James Dudko notes, the Ravens have traditionally succeeded in the draft by taking a risk if the fit is right. The risk in this case would involve Morrison’s injury issues, but if he’s healthy, he could have a good chance to get onto the field quickly at a position still in a state of flux.
The Ravens will need to weigh the potential benefits of selecting Morrison against the risks associated with his health. However, with the right fit and a healthy Morrison, the Ravens could find themselves with a lockdown corner outside the numbers, something they have been searching for in recent years.
Godwin Obaje
