One look at the Baltimore Ravens depth chart tells us a few things. The first is that the Ravens are elite. The second is that they have enough depth that some players are probably expendable on that side of the ball.
Bleacher Report’s Alex Kay thinks one of those expendable players could be veteran cornerback Chidobe Awuzie, who the Ravens picked up on a 1-year, $1.255 million contract this offseason. Kay’s trade proposal sends Awuzie to the Miami Dolphins in exchange for a 2026 fifth round pick.
Awuzie is kind of a financial anomaly for the Ravens. He signed a 3-year, $36 million free agent contract with the Tennessee Titans in March 2024 that included $22.98 million in guaranteed money. That means in 2025, he’ll receive $8.765 million in total, with $7.51 million from the Titans and the rest of the balance from the Ravens.
It also means if the Ravens can really pull off a trade where they get a fifth round pick in exchange for a backup cornerback — which Awuzie is right now — that would be an incredible return on a very minimal investment.
“The Dolphins lost a key cornerback this offseason when they traded Jalen Ramsey to the Pittsburgh Steelers,” Kay wrote on August 21. ” … Chidobe Awuzie could be available after the Ravens managed to snag Jaire Alexander following his release from Green Bay. Baltimore may prefer to keep the veteran as insurance and depth, but roster space will be tight after cuts are due and the offer of an early Day 3 pick could lead the club to move on from Awuzie.”
Awuzie’s salary in 2025 will bring his career earnings to approximately $46.7 million.
Ravens In Running For NFL’s Best Secondary
The Ravens could very well have the NFL’s best secondary in 2025.
They already have the NFL’s best safety in NFL All-Pro Kyle Hamilton along with 2025 first round pick (No. 27 overall) Malaki Starks at the other safety spot.
At the cornerback spots, they’ve got Alexander, a 2-time All-Pro, and Nate Wiggins, their 2024 first round pick. They’ve even got a 2-time All-Pro at nickelback with veteran Marlon Humphrey.
Awuzie Entering Journeyman Stage of Career
Awuzie was a second round pick (No. 60 overall) by the Dallas Cowboys in the 2017 NFL draft after he was a 2-time All-Pac-12 pick at Colorado in 2015 and 2016 — one of 3 cornerbacks drafted by the Cowboys in 2017.
He became a full time starter for the Cowboys in his second season and signed a 3-year, $21.75 million contract with the Cincinnati Bengals in 2021. He followed that with arguably the best season of his career with 64 tackles, 2 interceptions, 14 pass deflections and 4 TFL. It was the third time in 4 seasons Awuzie finished the year with double digit pass deflections.
Awuzie was just as good in the playoffs as the Bengals won the AFC Championship and played in the Super Bowl, with 24 tackles and 1 interception in 4 games. He struggled in 2024 as he missed 9 games with a groin injury, leading to his release.
In 8 seasons, Awuzie has 84 starts in 91 games with 7 interceptions and a whopping 66 pass deflections — a 17-game average of 12 pass deflections for his career.
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