Ravens S Ar’Darius Washington in line for increased role
Baltimore Ravens safety Ar'Darius Washington.
Marcus Williams and Kyle Hamilton remain in place atop the safety depth chart for the Ravens, but Geno Stone‘s departure has created a vacancy at the position. While outside additions have been a consideration, the team’s in-house candidates could provide them with a suitable replacement.
The top name in that regard is Ar’Darius Washington. The former UDFA has seen his career slowed down by injuries, but he began the 2023 campaign in line for a notable defensive workload. Washington suffered a chest injury which ended his season in Week 2, paving the way for Stone to cement a notable role even when both Williams and Hamilton were healthy. The latter logged snaps at a variety of positions last year, and maintaining his versatility moving forward will require a consistent third safety.
“Ar’Darius has looked really good. I feel great about him,” head coach John Harbaugh said of the 24-year-old’s prospects for an increase role, via the team’s website. “He’s already established himself. He’s played in the games – every game he’s played in – he’s played well. He’s looked great in practice, and let’s get him out there and get him in some more games. That’s the goal.”
Washington has made only eight regular season appearances to date. He battled a foot injury which ended his rookie campaign and has had a number of more established players ahead of him on the depth chart. The TCU alum has also seen time as a slot corner, a role which has a number of candidates but lacks a full-time starter at this point. Baltimore has veteran Arthur Maulet along with recent draftees Damarion Williams and Jalyn Armour-Davis as options to see a heavy usage rate in the slot.
Washington has also seen time there this spring, but the No. 3 safety role could allow him to showcase his abilities if the Ravens’ scheme remains dependent on using Hamilton in a variety of ways. Training camp will be critical in sorting out Baltimore’s secondary (which also includes rookie safeties Sanoussi Kane and Beau Brade), but for now signs point to Washington having the lead on the largest defensive workload of his career, something which could take the Ravens out of the running for a veteran addition later this summer.
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