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10 Underrated NFL players under 25 years old in 2019

By Russell S. Baxter

ARLINGTON, TX - NOVEMBER 05: Jaylon Smith #54 of the Dallas Cowboys celebrates a fumble recovery in the first quarter against the Tennessee Titans at AT&T Stadium on November 5, 2018 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
ARLINGTON, TX - NOVEMBER 05: Jaylon Smith #54 of the Dallas Cowboys celebrates a fumble recovery in the first quarter against the Tennessee Titans at AT&T Stadium on November 5, 2018 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images) /
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Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images
Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images /

4. CB Marlon Humphrey, Baltimore Ravens

In this day and age playing pass defense in the NFL is a lot easier said than done. But as a rookie in 2017, Baltimore Ravens’ cornerback Marlon Humphrey showed some flashes of stardom despite the fact that he made only five starts as a rookie.

The former University of Alabama standout caught one than one person’s attention as he did play in all 16 games. The 16th overall selection in the draft that year finished with 34 stops, a pair of interceptions and was second on the team with 11 passes defensed.

This past season, the 22-year old defender missed two contests but made eight starts. There were 37 tackles (three for losses), two more forced fumbles, one forced fumble and a club-best 15 passes defensed. In the club’s 23-17 playoff loss to the Los Angeles Chargers, the Ravens held the Bolts to 243 total yards and quarterback Philip Rivers to only 160 yards through the air.

This season, Humphrey will be part of a Baltimore defense that will have a dramatically different look to it. In 2018, no team in the league gave up fewer yards per game while coordinator Don Martindale’s unit was fourth in the NFL vs. the run and fifth vs. the pass.

Veterans such as pass-rushers Terrell Suggs and Za’Darius Smith, inside linebacker C.J. Mosley and safety Eric Weddle are no longer with the team. The two-year pro may have to step up his game this fall but he looks more than capable of being up to the task.

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