Ravens Rookie Compared to Former Fan Favorite

Baltimore Ravens rookie Devontez Walker has shades of Torrey Smith in his game.

Jeremy Brener | Apr 30, 2024

Nov 4, 2023; Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels wide receiver Devontez / Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports

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Baltimore Ravens

When the Baltimore Ravens selected Devontez Walker with their first pick in the fourth round in this past weekend's NFL Draft, they saw a former player of theirs in his game.

"With 'Tez,' you get really a vertical receiver, size and speed," general manager Eric DeCosta said. "In some ways, [he] reminds me of a Torrey Smith-type of player – an outside, take-the-top-off, vertical threat with good size, and phenomenal kid, excellent jumping ability."

Smith was drafted in the second round of the 2011 NFL Draft by the Ravens and he was a key part of the team's success early in his career. In just his second season, Smith led the team in touchdowns as the Ravens won the Super Bowl against the San Francisco 49ers, and there's hope that Walker can be part of the next championship for the franchise.

However, it won't be as easy for Walker to make an immediate impact. He finds himself fighting for playing time against second-year pro Zay Flowers, recently-extended Rashod Bateman and veteran wideout Nelson Agholor, all of whom are expected to be starting receivers in the upcoming season. While Walker has youth and upside going for him, it may be hard for him to crack legitimate snaps and playing time in 2024 if the team stays healthy.

However, depth is everything in the NFL, and to have someone like Smith as your fourth receiver means the team is pretty well taken care of at the position.

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Published Apr 30, 2024

JEREMY BRENER

Jeremy Brener is an editor, writer and social media manager for several Fan Nation websites. His work has also been featured in 247 Sports and SB Nation as a writer and podcaster. Brener has been with Fan Nation since 2021. Brener grew up in Houston, going to Astros, Rockets and Texans games as a kid. He moved to Orlando in 2016 to go to college and pursue a degree. He hosts "The Dream Take" podcast covering the Rockets, which has produced over 350 episodes since March 2020. Brener graduated in May 2020 from the University of Central Florida with a Bachelor's degree in Broadcast Journalism minoring in Sport Business Management. While at UCF, Brener worked for the school's newspaper NSM.today and "Hitting the Field," a student-run sports talk show and network. He was the executive producer for "Hitting the Field" from 2019-20. During his professional career, Brener has covered a number of major sporting events including the Pro Bowl, March Madness and several NBA and NFL games. As a fan, Brener has been to the 2005 World Series, 2010 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 NCAA National Championship between the Villanova Wildcats and North Carolina Tar Heels. Now, Brener still resides in the Central Florida area and enjoys writing, watching TV, hanging out with friends and going to the gym. Brener can be followed on Twitter @JeremyBrener. For more inquiries, please email jeremybrenerchs@gmail.com.