Ravens position-by-position draft preview: Defensive back

Current defensive backs under contract: Cornerbacks: Jimmy Smith, Brandon Carr, Marlon Humphrey, Tavon Young, Maurice Canady, Jaylen Hill, Stanley Jean-Baptiste, Robertson Daniel, Bennett Jackson, Robert Nelson; Safeties: Eric Weddle, Tony Jefferson, Anthony Levine Sr., Chuck Clark Chances that the Ravens will draft a defensive back in first three rounds: Low. There is one caveat. If Florida State safety Derwin James happens to fall to No. 16 — and it would be an upset if he did — the Ravens would have to be tempted. James is a physical specimen who can line up just about everywhere on the field. He’d give new defensive coordinator Don “Wink” Martindale another weapon to employ in different situations. James would also represent superb value at 16 and fit perfectly under the team’s longstated philosophy of taking the best player available. Otherwise, the Ravens figure to hold off on taking a cornerback until the later rounds and safety isn’t an immediate need. Possibly on Ravens’ radar: Marcus Allen, S (Penn State), Anthony Averett, CB (Alabama), JC Jackson, CB (Maryland), Derwin James, S (Florida State), Isaiah Oliver, CB (Colorado), Levi Wallace, CB (Alabama) Outlook: Newsome says every year that you can never have enough cornerbacks, and it’s been particularly true for his team. Injuries have killed the Ravens in the secondary. However, they are as deep at the position as they’ve been in some time. They believe they have three outside starters in Smith, Carr and Humphrey, last year’s first-round pick. They also love the potential of Young and Canady in the slot. Given the importance of the position, it makes sense to draft at least one corner- back every year. However, even with Smith a question mark as he recovers from a torn Achilles tendon, it’s tough to foresee the Ravens making that choice any earlier than the fourth or fifth round. As for safety, Weddle isn’t getting any younger and Jefferson struggled at times in his first season as a Raven. But Levine, mostly known as a special teams standout, has proved a valuable piece in the secondary and the team also is high on Clark, a sixth-round pick last season. The Ravens will probably look for a safety they can groom at some point of the draft, but it doesn’t figure to be a priority. That, of course, could change if James happens to fall out of the top 15.