Ravens rookie watch 2024: Can Devontez Walker emerge as Lamar Jackson’s deep threat?

The Baltimore Ravens would love to get Lamar Jackson another deep threat receiver and they may have done just that by selecting Devontez Walker with the No. 113 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.

With a growing reputation of finding quality players in the draft, the Ravens waited to the fourth round to select a receiver and they may have struck gold with Walker.  The University of North Carolina product comes into the NFL as a vertical threat with great speed, the kind of speed that will break the backs of defenses with the way Jackson can buy time in the pocket.  But the question is, can the fourth-round pick take over as the Raven’s third wide receiver on the depth chart?

It will depend on the chemistry he forms with Jackson and whether he can continue impressing in training camp.  If that chemistry materializes quickly, a veteran receiver like Nelson Agholor will be looking over his shoulder because Walker would quickly turn into a favorite target of Jackson and make the playmaking group of Zay Flowers, Rashod Bateman, Mark Andrews and Isaiah Likely a very interesting and explosive group.

Did the Baltimore Ravens find another playmaker in Devontez Walker?

In coming out of North Carolina as a top 10 wide receiver prospect on most draft boards, the 6-foot-2, 193-pound receiver is a big play waiting to happen has he encompasses the acceleration and explosion a quarterback like Jackson strives on.  With his YAC (yards after the catch skills), the Ravens will try to find ways to get the ball in his hands with quick passes as well.  But, so far in camp, Walker has been turning heads with grabs like the plays below:

“Tez is doing a great job stacking practices,” Ravens coach John Harbaugh said on the fade route above.

“I had a plan there.  We were going to go three plays, we were going to go tackling with the young guys to start the camp off, and Todd [Monken] calls the fade, and, ‘Boop,’ put it up there, and ‘Tez’ make the play, and [the] period is over.”

“That can happen.”

What can happen is an exciting connection between Jackson and Walker that could give the Ravens that deep threat option and additional playmaker they are clamoring for.