Round 4, Pick No. 113 — Devontez Walker, WR, North Carolina
‘Tez’ represents an outstanding selection at the intersection of need and value. With an impressive 9.76 relative athletic score, Walker boasts the length and deep speed to thrive as a linear receiver in the Ravens offense. His superb ball tracking flashes on tape but he could stand to improve his route precision at the next level. Schematically, his field stretching ability should help alleviate extra bodies from the box, benefitting the rushing attack and short/intermediate passing game.
Walker’s fit on Baltimore’s depth chart is also ideal. He should serve as the tertiary perimeter receiver behind Rashod Bateman and Zay Flowers during his rookie season, while Nelson Agholor shares slot responsibilities with the terrific tight end duo. General manager Eric DeCosta has done a masterful job adding high-ceiling prospects at high-value positions of need throughout the 2024 NFL draft.
- Vasilis Lericos
Day 3 is for boom-bust picks and value. The Ravens may have landed two booms in Devontez Walker and T.J. Tampa, two players with traits that translate to the NFL level. Walker’s the type of receiver who with a bit of polishing can find a niche in an NFL offense. After all, he’s the only receiver who got the better of their first-round pick, Nate Wiggins, with a reception of 20+ yards in 2023. Route-work with Zay Flowers and Co. could make a big impact for Walker to become a serviceable WR3.
- Kyle Phoenix
The Ravens took advantage of how the board played out in Round 4 and landed two high-value selections. Devontez Walker is an ideal fit at wide receiver given his deep-threat and contested catch ability. He will complement Zay Flowers and Rashod Bateman well to give Lamar Jackson another playmaker.
- Frank Platko
I love both of these picks for the Ravens here to kick off Day 3 and both are steals in terms of where they were being projected to go and where they ultimately landed. Devontez Walker is a big-bodied home-run threat who adds a field-stretching and contested catch presence on the boundary and would’ve come off the board in the top 100 picks in most years. His hand can be inconsistent sometimes and his route running needs some refinement, but both are correctable and he’ll be able to contribute right away as he works to improve them.
- Joshua Reed
In what felt like an important round four, the Ravens went big on falling talent. Tez Walker was a highly rated receiver, who was garnering day two buzz, but fell due to a lack of production. The athleticism jump off the chart with a 4.36 40-yard dash and a 40” vertical. A possible future X receiver, who in his rookie year will be able to take the top off some defenses and should improve considerably going into his second year.
- Zach Canter
Round 4, Pick No. 130 — T.J. Tampa, DB, Iowa State
Baltimore does it again, adding another excellent prospect with their second fourth round selection. Tampa was projected to be a second round pick by several analysts due to his enticing size and press-man potential. Despite lacking elite long-speed, T.J. posted impressive coverage metrics and offers plus instincts as a zone defender.
The Ravens needed to fill the void left by Ronald Darby’s departure at outside cornerback and between first rounder Nate Wiggins and now Tampa, DeCosta has outdone himself. New defensive coordinator Zach Orr will enter the 2024 season with arguably the most talented secondary in the NFL.
- Vasilis Lericos
Tampa was a highly-rated cornerback that leaves a bit of a mystery why he fell completely off Day 2. After nabbing Wiggins, a press-man corner, they go with Tampa who is experienced in zone work. That said, Tampa has the physical traits to become a press-man cornerback, but that will likely be an unpleasant training experience to learn at the NFL level.
- Kyle Phoenix
T.J. Tampa is a pure best player available pick and was considered by many to be a second-round prospect. Tampa is a good athlete with a strong physical profile. He’ll give the Ravens more added insurance and depth at the cornerback position after they drafted Nate Wiggins in Round 1.
- Frank Platko
To be able to land a prospect of T.J. Tampa’s athletic profile and proven ability in the bottom of the fourth round is one of the biggest steals of the entire draft given how some pundits projected him as a potential surprise first-rounder. This was clearly a classic ‘best player available’ pick given that they used their first-round pick to take Clemson’s Nate Wiggins who might not even start right away as a rookie.
One of the biggest strengths of the Ravens 2023 juggernaut was their depth at both wide receiver and cornerback as both position groups were deep enough to withstand the injuries that inevitably occurred. And with these two fourth round picks, they’re determined to continue being well prepared in case of injury, plus 2025 replacements for Brandon Stephens and Nelson Agholor who aren’t under contract beyond 2024.
- Joshua Reed
For their second fourth round pick, the Ravens stopped the falling T.J. Tampa. Tampa was getting round two buzz and even some late day one buzz near the very end of the process. Tampa is a physical corner, who compliments the speed of Nate Wiggins to complete this fourth round for the Ravens. Despite the fall, Tampa should be able to have immediate impact for the Ravens as a rookie.
- Zach Canter
Round 5, Pick No. 165 — Rasheed Ali, RB, Marshall
Round 6, Pick No. 218 — Devin Leary, QB, Kentucky
Round 7, Pick No. 228 — Nick Samac, C, Michigan State
Round 7, Pick No. 250 — Sanoussi Kane, S, Purdue
After filling all of the pressing positional needs before the end of the fourth round, especially if the coaching staff opts to cross-train T.J. Tampa at safety, Ravens brass took some swings at tier three needs in the late rounds.
Ali is a classic one-cut ‘slasher’ tailback who can boost the Derrick Henry and Justice Hill led running back committee while electric runner Keaton Mitchell recovers from injury. Leary has a strong arm but is rather turnover-prone, it will be interesting to see how the new practice-squad eligible emergency third quarterback rule impacts Week 1 roster construction. The former Spartan Samac is a run-blocking specialist. Kane profiles as a box safety with core special teams capability.
DeCosta mentioned the relative weakness of the draft class in the later rounds due to NIL compensation among the collegiate ranks at the pre-draft press conference. Fortunately, the board fell well for the Ravens early-on as they secured promising prospects at cornerback, offensive tackle, edge rusher and receiver. Overall, the Ravens will enter the summer with less weaknesses than they had at the same juncture last offseason. During his sixth draft at the helm, DeCosta seemingly found his stride by balancing positional value with need and value in route to perhaps his best draft haul to date.
- Vasilis Lericos
My favorite late-round pick by the Ravens is fifth-round running back Rasheen Ali out of Marshall. Not only does he stand the best chance of making the team of the bunch but his selection addresses one of their top remaining and most underrated needs with an explosive and dynamic playmaker.
I don’t really understand the pick of Kentucky quarterback Devin Leary in the sixth round given how his game isn’t anywhere similar to Lamar Jackson’s but hopefully, he’ll be a fun watch in the preseason. I do like the two seventh-round picks since Michigan State’s Nick Samac will be an experienced backup option behind Pro Bowl center Tyler Linderbaum and Purdue’s Sanoussi Kane can be a strong special teams presence with the upside to contribute on defense as a dime linebacker who plays in the box near the line of scrimmage.
- Joshua Reed
