The Baltimore Ravens have a lot of rookies joining an already talented roster. While some, like first-round steal Vega Ioane, will have an immediate impact, others could have a difficult time earning many reps in the early going.
There will be reps up for grabs on offense, though. The Ravens lost a ton of talent in free agency at tight end, interior offensive line, and running back. They’re also weaker at wide receiver in general. That should open up opportunities for rookie weapons starving for NFL action.
Baltimore drafted two wide receivers in the 2026 NFL Draft, and the player many people are excited for is fourth-rounder Elijah Sarratt. He played a pivotal role in a National Championship-winning effort at Indiana in 2025. Now, he eyes to continue that in Baltimore. One ESPN draft analyst is very excited to see that pairing on full display.
Baltimore Ravens fans should be extremely excited by draft expert’s Elijah Sarratt praise
Following the 2026 NFL Draft, ESPN draft analyst Matt Miller ranked the 100 best picks. Among those listed was Elijah Sarratt. He ranked 69th on the list, and Miller had some very high praise for not only Sarratt, but the fit in the Ravens’ offense. Miller wrote:
“The yearly plea to add big-bodied playmakers around Lamar Jackson was finally heard. Sarratt represents one of four pass catchers the Ravens added in this draft, all of whom are 6-2 or taller. Sarratt excelled at Indiana in making plays on back-shoulder fades and using his frame to shield defenders from the ball. That has been missing in Baltimore, as the previous regime seemed to favor speed on the edges to widen out defenses. That still exists with Zay Flowers, but Sarratt's ability to win at the catch point was needed.”
Sarratt was picked after another wide receiver, Ja’Kobi Lane, who was selected in the third round at No. 80, but it feels like the consensus is that Sarratt has a better chance to make a bigger impact in his rookie year. The current state of the depth chart at wideout also favors a rookie like Sarratt getting on the field early and often.
As Miller mentioned, Sarratt is exactly what Baltimore’s offense needed. There’s been a lack of a consistent contested catch threat on the outside. And when you have a nickname like “Waffle House” because you're always open, you'd be a hard target to miss.
Along with that physical presence, Sarratt has some route nuance to his game and can even get going after the catch. He’s a versatile piece that can play on both the outside and inside. As Zay Flowers brings the shiftiness and electricity, and Rashod Bateman looks to return to being a competent deep threat, Sarratt could be that final well-rounded physical presence that the wide receiver room needs. He feels like the perfect fit.
Sarratt will be competing with Lane and third-year weapon Devontez Walker, but neither of those competitors holds much stake over him right now. Lane has a slightly more significant draft pedigree; however, that’s barely an edge and can be settled in training camp. As for Walker, he’s been a fun target, but hasn’t seen consistent enough production to be considered a shoo-in for the WR3 role.
Ultimately, Sarratt is starting from square one and certainly has a mountain to climb before earning a starting spot on the depth chart. The potential is real, though, and he’ll have every opportunity in the world to prove himself ahead of the regular season.
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