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Why the Ravens may prioritize the WR position early in the NFL Draft
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- Why the Ravens may prioritize the WR position early in the NFL Draft
The NFL off-season is underway, and the Ravens are officially ready for business after announcing a new staff that included 25 coaches. The Ravens will initially have 22 unrestricted free agents, according to Over The Cap, with big names like Tyler Linderbaum, Isaiah Likely, Kyle Van Noy, Dre'Mont Jones, Alohi Gilman, Chidobe Awuzie, and Ar'Darius Washington among those Eric DeCosta will have to decide on. Baltimore builds through the draft, and a point has to be made to the Ravens' wide receiving corps, potentially using a first- or second-round pick at wide receiver after lukewarm results in 2025.
Last season, the Ravens focused on a wide receiver corps that included Zay Flowers, Rashod Bateman, DeAndre Hopkins, Devontez Walker, Tylan Wallace, and LaJohntay Wester for the bulk of the season. Wester was also the primary punt return player. The disappointment began when Rashod Bateman had a down year and even missed the AFC North title game due to illness. After a career year in 2024, Bateman finished last season with 13 games played, 12 starts, 38 targets, 19 receptions, 224 yards receiving, and two touchdowns.
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Zay Flowers is the biggest star of the group, logging back-to-back Pro Bowls after accounting for 85 catches, 1,211 yards, and five touchdowns. Still, the lack of development and opportunities for Devontez Walker and LaJohntay Wester will be something the new coach will need to watch. Baltimore is so uncertain at wide receiver that there could be room to bring back DeAndre Hopkins, who had 39 catches for 330 yards and two touchdowns.
Rashod Bateman #7 and Zay Flowers #4 of the Baltimore Ravens (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
A 13-year vet and free agent, Hopkins was the Ravens' third option behind Flowers and tight end Mark Andrews. Hopkins' 37 targets were similar to Rashod Bateman (38) and Isaiah Likely (35) as he logged 22 catches for 330 yards and two touchdowns, career lows in nearly every significant receiving category, but much needed for Baltimore.
Devontez Walker is on the cusp of a huge leap and needs the snaps as the big play option in Declan Doyle's offense, but a team looking to take the next steps offensively could look to give Bateman a fresh start, thus replacing him via trade or with a first or second-round pick.
This article originally appeared on Ravens Wire: NFL Draft: Ravens may prioritize the wide receiver position early
