6 secondary standouts from NFL Combine who fit Ravens

Half a dozen cornerbacks and safeties who showed out in front of scouts and executives.

The second group of prospects to hit the field at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis for the 2025 NFL Scouting Combine included cornerbacks and safeties. With room to improve and reinforce their depth at both positions, the Baltimore Ravens were watching these NFL hopefuls closely on Friday to see which ones could best fit their needs.

Here are the defensive back standouts from the second day of testing and workouts who fit the Ravens:

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Cornerbacks

Maxwell Hairston, Kentucky: Several of the top cornerback prospects did not take part in some or all of the athletic testing and on-field drills because of injury or personal choice. This allowed the former Wildcat to take full advantage of the opportunity to separate himself and boost his draft stock. His 4.28 in the 40-yard dash was the fastest mark of all positions at this year’s event and it showed in his on-field workouts as well with the way he moved through the drills with explosive and effortless speed. Hairston also recorded the second-best vertical leap (39.50) and third-best broad jump (10-foot-9) at his position. At 5-foot-11 and 183 pounds, some project Hairston to be a slot-only player but his tape shows a player capable of more than holding his own on the outside. He recorded six interceptions in his final two college seasons, returning half for touchdowns, and he showed out at the Reese’s Senior Bowl as well. The Ravens would be lucky if he lasted until the second round but it wouldn’t be surprising in the slightest if he was their pick in the first or came off the board in the top 20 picks.

Jahdae Barron, Texas: The All-American cornerback came into the Combine on a mission to dispel the doubts and concerns about his long speed and put all of them to rest when he ran a blazing 4.39 in the 40-yard dash. While it marked the sixth-fastest mark in his position group, his 10-yard split of 1.50 tied for the second-fastest. Barron didn’t take part in any of the on-field drills but did jump 35 inches in the vertical leap and 10-foot-3 in the broad jump. He recorded career-highs in interceptions (five) and pass breakups (11) as a senior and while he might have very well run his way into being a lock to go in the top 20, if he falls to the Ravens, they’d have quite the dynamic cornerback trio on Baltimore.

Darien Porter, Iowa State: Last year the Ravens stopped the fall of a former Cyclone who didn’t have the best showing at the Combine in TJ Tampa. This time around, they will likely be one of many teams itching to take Porter sooner than he otherwise would’ve gone prior to blowing up this year’s event with his exceptional athletic testing. He finished first or second in everything but the vertical leap and even his mark of 36.50 was tied for sixth-best. Porter ran the second-fastest time in the 40-yard dash (4.30), had the fastest 10-yard split (1.49), the second-best broad jump (10-foot-11) and the top marks in both the three-cone (6.71) and 20-yard shuttle (4.04). As a converted receiver with length and ball skills, he has all the tools to develop into a high-quality player with the right coaching and is coming off a senior season in which he recorded three interceptions. His untapped potential having just been playing corner for the past three seasons is vast.

Safeties

Nick Emmanwori, South Carolina: As if his rare blend of size and athleticism wasn’t already apparent on his tape, the former Gamecock backed it up with a phenomenal showing at Combine with off-the-charts testing. At 6-foot-3 and 220 pounds, he recorded the best broad jump (11-foot-6) and vertical leap (43) of any position at this year’s event. He ran the second-fastest time in the 40-yard dash among safeties (4.38), had the fastest 10-yard split (1.49) and posted the most reps on the bench press at his position as well (20). His unofficial relative athletic score was a perfect 10.00 out of 10.00 which ranks first out of 1,079 strong safeties dating back to 1987. Emmanwori is coming off a season in which he recorded career-highs in total tackles (88), tackles for loss (three), interceptions (four) and two pick-sixes. There’s a chance that he is long gone by the time the Ravens are on the clock at No. 27 overall but they thought the same thing three years ago when Kyle Hamilton fell into their laps at No. 14 overall.

Malaki Starks, Georgia: While the former All-American didn’t test off the charts when it came to running the 40-yard dash (4.50) or any other athletic testing outside of recording the third-fastest 10-yard split (1.51), his on-field workouts were stellar. Not only was Starks fluid with his movements but he was explosive as well, recording the fastest top speeds among safeties in the short shuttle, wave drill, gauntlet drill, line drill and Teryl Austin drill. Starks is the best natural free safety in this year’s class with great range, instincts and ball skills. He has a much better chance of being on the board for the Ravens in the first round than Emmanwori.

Billy Bowman, Oklahoma: The former Sooner continued to shine in this latest stage of the pre-draft process after showing out at the Reese’s Senior Bowl but performing well in both athletic testing and on-field workouts. He ran the fourth-fastest 40-yard dash (4.42) and 10-yard split (1.52) among safeties and posted the seventh-best vertical leap (35.50) and the sixth-best broad jump (10-foot-3). Bowman is one of the best ball hawks in this year’s safety class who has recorded eight interceptions in his last two seasons including six in 2023 and returned three for a touchdown. If the Ravens miss out on Emmanwori or Starks on Day 1, they could land a gem on Day 2 who would be a perfect replacement for Geno Stone whose presence they missed last season after he departed in free agency.