3 Ravens playing with a chip on their shoulder after the 2022 NFL Draft
By Kristen Wong
Disgruntled Ravens player No. 2: James Proche
After the Ravens opted against drafting a wideout, fans let the team’s wide receiver corps feel the heat. Talk swirled of players like Devin Duvernay and James Proche not being good enough to have a starting job in 2022, and of the two, Proche may have the steepest hill to climb to prove the haters wrong.
Proche recorded 16 catches for 202 yards and failed to find the endzone last season, but his numbers marked a significant improvement from 2020 when he had just one catch for 16 yards.
Proche arguably impressed the most out of all wideouts at training camp last year, playing well enough to earn a backup receiver spot. Now, with the departures of Marquise Brown and Sammy Watkins, he has his sights set on a starting role this season.
His direct competition for the slot receiver job is Jaylon Moore and undrafted ‘Bama product Slade Bolden, but it’s worth noting that Proche has been unfairly singled out by fans as a mediocre and unimpressive member of the Ravens’ offense.
For his part, Proche has taken the social media to re-assert his confidence in himself and has also been working out with Lamar Jackson this offseason.
https://twitter.com/jamesproche3/status/1521871399790563329
As it stands, Proche appears to have very little support from Ravens fans, and the smallest slip-up could result in even more criticism and nastiness headed his way.
Proche’s only way to silence his critics is to prove his worth out on the field and continue improving his game. He has the potential to take a giant leap in his career in 2022, but as he said himself, don’t be a fan later.