The Ravens have signed eight-year veteran cornerback Chidobe Awuzie to a one-year deal, the team announced March 25. Terms were not disclosed, though the NFL Network reported it to be a “minimum” deal.
Awuzie, 29, was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the second round of the 2017 draft out of Colorado. He spent four years with the Cowboys and three with the Cincinnati Bengals before joining Tennessee on a three-year, $36 million deal last offseason.
Awuzie, though, was limited by injuries to just eight games with the Titans, and Tennessee released him earlier this month. Because he was released, Awuzie’s signing won’t factor in the calculations regarding 2026 compensatory draft picks.
Awuzie finished the 2024 season with 26 tackles, one interception and four passes defensed in eight games. He spent the middle portion of the season on injured reserve with a groin injury.
The Ravens faced Awuzie five times while he was a member of the Bengals, but injuries cut his time short there as well; Awuzie missed the last half of the 2022 season with a torn ACL.
During his eight NFL seasons, Awuzie has totaled 395 tackles, seven interceptions, five forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries. He started Super Bowl LVI for the Bengals after the 2021 season.
If healthy, Awuzie could compete for a starting outside cornerback job after the team lost Brandon Stephens to the New York Jets as a free agent and let 2024 midseason acquisition Tre’Davious White go as a free agent.
The Ravens still have Nate Wiggins, who is coming off an impressive rookie year, and Pro Bowl cornerback Marlon Humphrey, but the team often prefers to use Humphrey in the slot, leaving an opening on the outside.
The other internal candidates at outside cornerback would be Jalyn Armour-Davis, who has struggled to stay healthy in three NFL seasons, and T.J. Tampa, who played sparingly as a rookie in 2024.
General manager Eric DeCosta has echoed his predecessor Ozzie Newsome’s mantra that “you can never have too many corners,” and it’s likely the Ravens will address the secondary early in the draft as well. Barring any trades, the Ravens have 11 picks in next month’s draft, beginning with No. 27 in the first round.