From stabilizer to playmaker: Ar’Darius Washington is taking his game and Ravens defense to the next level

The former undrafted free agent is emerging as a consistently disruptive difference maker since being inserted into the starting lineup.

First-team All-Pro safety Kyle Hamilton has received a lot of praise for the incredible turnaround of the Ravens’ pass defense since transitioning to a traditional deep safety role. However, he isn’t the only defensive back excelling in a new spot over the last month.

Since replacing safety Marcus Williams in the starting lineup in Week 11, fourth-year pro Ar’Darius Washington has played a major role in stabilizing a pass defense that ranked dead-last in the league through the first 10 weeks of the season. The undersized 2021 UDFA has made the most of his first chance at extended playing time after struggling with injuries in his first three seasons.

When he first became a starter, Washington’s coverage ability primarily helped the secondary limit explosive passing plays. In the Ravens’ last three games since returning from their Week 14 bye, Washington has also emerged as a playmaker in coverage, run support and open-field tackling.

“It just shows my determination and my hard work paying off and everything,” Washington said. “A lot of the success goes to the whole defense and the coaches, so we came in here, and we had made a commitment to each other that we were going to go out there and turn things around, and then the coaches made the changes that needed to be changed, and I got in there, and I just helped out.”

He recorded his second interception – of the season and his career – against the Giants in Week 15. Six days later, he forced his first career forced fumble by blowing up a scrambling Russell Wilson short of the goal line. The turnover prevented the Steelers from taking the lead and gave the Ravens the momentum to march down the field on a scoring drive of their own.

“That was a huge play to make, by ‘A.D’,” said three-time Pro Bowl cornerback Marlon Humphrey who had a game-sealing pick-six in the fourth quarter. “That forced fumble happening really swung the game. I think that was probably the biggest play of the game.”

On Christmas, Washington reversed the Houston Texans’ momentum following Derrick Henry’s safety with another key play. The 5-foot-8, 180-pound defensive back came crashing downhill to stop 6-foot-1, 220-pound running back Joe Mixon, short of the goal line on fourth down to save a touchdown and give the ball back to the Ravens offense.

“I was just relating to my coverage on that play, and then I saw them throw the ball, and I was like, ‘There is no way I’m going to let [Joe Mixon] get in her,’ so I just had broke on the ball,” Washington said.

Washington’s clutch defensive playmaking is proving that he can be more than just a role player when healthy.

“Ar’Darius has made two [big plays] in a row, two weeks in a row,” Head coach John Harbaugh said Wednesday. “[That’s] probably what you’re alluding too, right? Two huge stops around the goal line for us. Just big plays; that’s who he is.”

It’s no coincidence that the Ravens defense has gotten better with Washington on the field. Not only has he stabilizing the back end of the defense with communication and consistency in coverage, he has established himself as a dangerous defender with a nose for the ball in high-leverage situations.

After injuries limited him to just 11 games in his first three years in the league, Washington has played in every game this season with career-highs across the board including total tackles (60), tackles for loss (five) and pass breakups (seven). He plays bigger than his size, both as an explosive tackler and aerial threat against the pass.

“I have a lot of respect for ‘AD’, the type of player he is and the type of person that he is,” said Roquan Smith after the Giants game. “On a daily [basis], he busts his tail, never asks for any handouts, go gets everything out the mud, and when you’re an individual like that … ‘This kid … Oh, [he’s] too short, too small. Oh, maybe not this or maybe not that;’ he has the mentality [of] ‘F’ everything. ‘I’m going to prove it play in and play out.’ And when things like that happen to people who bust their tail day in and day out, I just love to see it.”