Raven Country

Ravens Scouting Director Explains WR Pick

The Baltimore Ravens are excited about what Devontez Walker brings to the table.

Jeremy Brener

Oct 7, 2023; Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels wide receiver Devontez
Oct 7, 2023; Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels wide receiver Devontez / Jaylynn Nash-USA TODAY Sports
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The Baltimore Ravens addressed their need at receiver in the 2024 NFL Draft by selecting North Carolina wideout Devontez Walker in the fourth round.

There were chances to go for a receiver sooner, but the Ravens were happy with choosing Walker when they did at the No. 113 overall pick.

"He just has vertical explosiveness [and] the ability to get behind coverage, take the top off the defense, make big plays," director of college scouting David Blackburn said. "He is a threat, and he also does it at his size. He's not a small guy, and he doesn't play small downfield. He can put pressure on the defense, and he's able to make some contested catches downfield. I think that bodes well for our offense and our quarterback."

The Ravens like what Walker brings on the field, but they were also impressed with the other things that come with being a member of the organization.

"The thing that I really like most about him is that he's encountered some athletic adversity in his life, and he's overcome," Blackburn said. "And, he's a really mentally tough kid, as well as physically tough. He works at his craft, and he's a great teammate. So, outside of those physical traits that he has, he has a lot of intangibles as well."

While Walker may struggle to see playing time in his rookie year behind Zay Flowers, Nelson Agholor and Rashod Bateman on the depth chart, the Ravens are hopeful that Walker can develop and grow a lot in his first season, making him that much better in the years to come.

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Jeremy Brener
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.