The early star of Baltimore Ravens’ training camp has been rookie wide receiver Ja'Kobi Lane. Drafted in the third round of the 2026 Draft, the wideout’s big-play ability has become a fixture for training camp, with Lane making highlight-worthy catches every practice.
Of course, the rookie receiver is generating a ton of excitement inside and outside of the building. Inside the building, Ravens offensive coordinator Declan Doyle is already comparing Lane to an elite receiver he previously coached.
Following Baltimore’s practice on Wednesday, Doyle compared Lane to former New Orleans Saints receiver Michael Thomas, who he coached as an offensive assistant for four seasons.
"The guy that I was around that [Lane’s] hands remind me of is Mike Thomas. Mike Thomas had these strong hands where he could pull it down in a way, and you threw it in the vicinity and you felt like he was gonna go get it. There’s a lot of that feeling; he’s a very friendly guy to throw to. "Declan Doyle
Ravens’ rookie Ja'Kobi Lane gets Michael Thomas’ co-sign after comparison
In addition to being compared to Thomas, he also received an endorsement from the two-time All-Pro receiver, who shared a clip of one of Lane’s impressive catches, with the caption, “If bro say you can’t guard him you can’t guard him. Do your research it’s a mentality.” Thomas’ statement references both receivers’ usernames, which start with “can’t guard” before listing their names.
If bro say you can’t guard him you can’t guard him. Do your research it’s a mentality. https://t.co/n2iyfrCtme
— Michael Thomas (@Cantguardmike) August 4, 2026
Thomas isn’t the only former elite receiver to praise Lane in recent days. Former Raven Dez Bryant took to social media to say, “If I tell you a player is legit..he’s legit,” emphasizing that he has long believed in Lane.
It’s awesome that the rookie receiver is making a name for himself, and has the support of wideouts who dominated the NFL, and now it’s his turn to do the same. Lane will have to keep up the play-making ability that he’s showing in camp, and display it in the preseason and regular season.
If he can do that, the Ravens’ offense will get even more dangerous. The unit already has Lamar Jackson, Derrick Henry, and the recently paid Zay Flowers. Add in the big-play lane and this group could be unstoppable.
Add us as a preferred source on Google