Ravens rookie Devontez Walker sends message to Bengals

The NFL draft process is an interesting experience for rookies because when they meet with teams, they can either get no feedback or be told that if they are available at a certain level, they will be selected. For rookie WR Devontez Walker, he thought he might join the AFC North, but not as a member of the defending division champion Baltimore Ravens.

Walker joined “The Lounge Podcast” with Ryan Mink and Garret Downing to talk about life before and after the draft and dropped a nugget that he thought he would be drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals.

The rookie later said: “I’ve got a score to settle with Cincy, I have to say,” the receiver said with a smile.

Walker talked about the teams he met with several times in the draft and the Bengals were one of the teams mentioned. He said, “Like I said, that’s where I thought I’d go.”

The Ravens selected Walker in the fourth round of the 2023 season at No. 113 (the Bengals were expected to pick at No. 115), while the Bengals apparently passed on the North Carolina wideout twice in the third round at No. 80 and No. 97.

“They took another receiver there,” Walker told Mink and Downing. The receiver chosen was Alabama’s Jermaine Burton with the 80th pick, Walker clearly thought that was where his draft experience was going to end.

“Cincinnati, this game is going to be tough,” Walker said. The Ravens and Bengals will meet in Week 5, on Oct. 6, for the first of two meetings.

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Ravens hope WR Devontez Walker is their biggest threat

The Ravens may have gotten a bargain in the fourth round, as Walker has the talent to shine in the Ravens’ offense.

ESPN reporter Jamison Hensley covered Baltimore’s pick and wrote: “The Ravens hope they’ve found their vertical threat… Walker had nine receptions on passes of at least 20 yards, the most in the ACC since his season debut on Oct. 14.”

The Ravens needed to improve in that area because even though QB Lamar Jackson won his second MVP and threw for a career-high in passing yards, they lacked in the deep threat category.

“Baltimore’s receivers had 16 receptions for 20 yards, which ranked 24th in the NFL,” Hensley said. Walker is a top player at the position with a 4.36 40-yard dash time, and he should be able to run right in front of the corners and give Jackson a downfield threat.

The rookie will have plenty of work to do, as ESPN’s Steve Muench wrote: “Walker dropped a few passes on tape, isn’t a polished route runner and is skinny.”

Walker was ranked as the 17th-best receiver in this deep class, but if he can improve his size, he has a chance to be a game-changer for Baltimore’s offense.

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Ravens’ offense could be one of the most versatile in the league

The Ravens’ 2024 offense will be one of the most interesting groups to watch in the NFL as they are loaded with talent across every position group.

The emphasis will likely be on the running game with the addition of All-Pro RB Derrick Henry this offseason, but Henry’s presence should force defenses to stack the box and open up lanes on the outside.

The Ravens lost veteran WR Odell Beckham to the Miami Dolphins, but they’re hoping Walker can finally provide that deep threat. Paired with Zay Flowers entering his second season and a potentially motivated Rashod Bateman, the WR group has the potential to explode.

Defenses will also have to rely on TEs Mark Andrews and Isaiah Likely, depending on the packages offensive coordinator Todd Monken deploys. It’s a plethora of weapons that will keep defenses up at night.