Dream WR prospect sends clear message to Ravens at NFL Combine

As has been the case perpetually during the Lamar Jackson era, the Baltimore Ravens need more talent at wide receiver. With the No. 30 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft at their disposal, Baltimore has the chance to identify their next great skill position player at the 2024 NFL Combine.

If the Ravens want to take a wide receiver in the first round, they picked a very good year to need depth at this position. Players like Texas' Adonai Mitchell, Oregon's Troy Franklin, and Florida State's Keon Coleman all look like possible standouts who could make a Zay Flowers-like impact as a rookie.

Given Flowers' diminutive frame and Rashod Bateman's struggles against more physical corners, drafting Coleman might make the most sense from a stylistic point of view. Coleman may have inadvertently got the hype train started with some glowing praise of Baltimore at the NFL Combine.

Coleman said his meeting with the Ravens was "great" and called it "a dream" to play alongside Jackson, Flowers, and Rashod Bateman. Coleman also said he would like Baltimore to retain Odell Beckham Jr. amid his free agency saga.

Florida State WR Keon Coleman wants to play for Ravens at NFL Combine

Coleman is every bit of 6-4 with a bulky frame that makes him a perfect X receiver in the modern NFL. There may be no player in this class outside of the consensus top three wideouts who are better at making contested catches than him, which is a trait Baltimore has needed for some time.

Coleman also possesses enough straight-line speed to make himself a valuable weapon stretching the field. When the nigh-unbeaten Seminoles let him make plays with the ball in his hands, Coleman showed more wiggle and ability to make something happen than most bigger receivers in this class.

There's always a catch with picking receivers like this later in the first round, as hs doesn't have the separation or route-running chops to immediately get open against NFL corners. For every hit at this point in the draft, there's a Josh Doctson or N'Keal Harry waiting to spoil the fun.

The Ravens need to add at least one receiver of some elevated status in the offseason, and Coleman's ability to be a red zone weapon might be the key factor in deciding on him over a more experienced option. If he hits, Coleman might be able to star alogside Jackson in Baltimore for a long time.

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