Arthur Maulet had an impressive season with the Ravens in 2023, which led him to secure a two-year contract extension on March 22. With the ink still drying on his new contract, the Ravens’ cornerback is optimistic that great things are ahead.
Maulet, who turns 31 in July, showcased his skills in 14 games (three starts) in 2023. He tied or achieved personal bests in various categories, including interceptions (one), sacks (two), quarterback hits (three) and passes defensed (five).
Maulet has moved around quite a bit during his time in the NFL, having played for five different teams since 2017. However, Baltimore holds a special place in his heart, and he recognizes there is something truly special in the city that goes beyond just football.
Maulet recalled a former college teammate showing him around Baltimore when he first got to town as a member of the Ravens.
“I’m driving downtown and driving around, and it just reminded me of where I am from — New Orleans, Louisiana,” Maulet said on Glenn Clark Radio. “He pointed out a painting. It was Ray Lewis, Ed Reed and some other guys. He was like, ‘This city thrives off you guys being successful. That’s what motivates the city.’ It was similar to where I’m from in New Orleans, so I just think it was kind of like my second home, honestly. After that, I just felt the impact we can have if we have a successful season on the city.”
Former Ravens defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald is now the head coach of the Seattle Seahawks, leaving former inside linebackers coach Zach Orr to take over the defense. Orr’s elevation played a significant role in Maulet’s decision to remain in Baltimore.
Maulet has faith in Orr’s abilities.
“Zach is a really good coach, a player’s coach,” Maulet said. “Obviously, I’m familiar with him because I was with him last year. He’s wired and he speaks the same language as me, so I think it’s just going to be a good match. He’s going to have the defense flying around. He’s a high-energy coach as well. He’s going to make you play harder than what you want. He’s going to push you to be great, so I think it is a perfect match for Baltimore and Zach.”
Opportunities for quarterback hits can be rare for cornerbacks. Witnessing a cornerback excel on the edge is truly impressive and stands out on the TV screen. Maulet’s ability to cause chaos in the backfield last season truly distinguishes him from his peers.
“I was telling [head coach John Harbaugh] the other day and all those guys in the building before I signed this contract, I was like, ‘I appreciate y’all looking at the film, knowing that I’m a vet in this game, undrafted and I had to earn my right to play,” Maulet said. “I just felt they trusted what they saw on film and they let me do what I needed to do to be successful.”
Though Maulet is back in Baltimore, the Ravens’ defense has undergone some change due to the recent departures of linebackers Patrick Queen and Del’Shawn Phillips, cornerback Ronald Darby and safety Geno Stone. Outside linebackers Jadeveon Clowney and Kyle Van Noy, among other free agents, remain unsigned.
Still, Maulet likes where the team stands.
“I’m very confident,” the cornerback said. “We’ve got the draft. We’ve still got some more free agency to handle. … Honestly, the core is still there. The mentality is still there. Everybody speaks the same language — the ownership to be great. … [General manager Eric DeCosta] knows what he is doing. I’m full-go ready to go and help this team finish the business that we did last year.”
DeCosta’s extensive body of work as the general manager of the Ravens is a key factor that contributes to Maulet’s confidence in the team’s defense.
“Me coming in as a late addition [last year] and seeing the guys that I am playing with in front of me, this is not going to be easy but I’m going to have confidence because all of these guys that are in front of me — elite edge rushers, elite D-tackles, elite linebacker play,” Maulet said. “I just think our defense in general is elite. EDC is going to do a good job. He is going to get in his lab and he’s going to find guys that someone doesn’t know like me and thrive. I’m super excited to see what he does.”
The lingering pain of defeat in the AFC championship game in January remains palpable. Although the experience was unsettling, it served as a strong motivator for the team to move forward.
“We know what we have to do to be successful,” Maulet said. “It’s a learning experience. We got there. Now we know what we need to do to get the job done.”
Maulet’s is confident the Ravens can get the job done in the upcoming season.
“It’s going to be tough,” Maulet said. “A lot of the teams got better, so we’ve got to really, really, really hold each other accountable and try to get this thing done for the city and for Baltimore.”
For more from Maulet, listen to the full interview here:
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