The Baltimore Ravens picked two receivers in the 2020 NFL Draft. Here are three goals for Devin Duvernay and James Proche:
1. Be quick studies and make an instant impact:
The Baltimore Ravens drafted two receivers in the 2020 NFL Draft but they did it in the third and sixth round respectively. The Ravens learned the hard way that players drafted in the third round or later often take some time to develop. Miles Boykin had some flashes last year as a third round pick, yet he looked like a bit of a project. Jaylon Ferguson played a good bit at the outside linebacker position, however he definitely looked like a rookie. The Ravens are needy at the wide receiver position and they need their young receivers to be able to play right away.
The biggest expectations should be put on Duvernay. Duvernay played on a big stage with the Texas Longhorns and became a play-maker in his in fourth and final season there. Make no mistake about it though, both receivers should try to be instant impact players. This is an offense that returns receivers who only contributed 93 receptions last year. The passing game has to grow and there isn’t a ton of competition at the wide receiver spot. If anything, Duvernay and Proche are competing with each other for the third or fourth spot in the receiver pecking order.
The only thing we objectively know at the wide receiver position is that Marquise Brown is the number one target and that Willie Snead is a reliable option. Everything else is literally up for grabs. If there is any offense where a sixth round pick could come in and do something it’s that of the purple and black. Proche needs to come in and catch the ball every time he gets a chance. Sixth round picks don’t usually walk into this good of an opportunity.