Ravens steal deep threat WR in UNC's Devontez Walker: Instant grade and analysis

The Baltimore Ravens made some impactful additions in the 2024 NFL Draft, but they were unable to land a wide receiver who could be an impact player as a rookie. That all changed when the Ravens used the No. 113 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft on North Carolina receiver Devontez Walker.

The Ravens will pair Walker with Clemson cornerback Nate Wiggins (picked No. 30 overall), Washington right tackle Roger Rosengarten (No. 62 overall) and Penn State pass rusher Adisa Isaac (No. 93 overall). Walker will help Lamar Jackson take full advantage of his downfield arm.

Baltimore clearly had a priority when evaluating wide receivers in this draft, as they valued speed and downfield playmaking above all else. While not a perfect player, Walker is one of the best in his class when it comes to getting behind the defense and reeling off big plays.

The Ravens once again were at the perfect intersection of value and need, as Walker gives them a wide receiver perfectly fit for what they were craving more of without taking a starting spot away from Rashod Bateman. It appears as though Eric DeCosta has nailed it again in the fourth round.

Ravens NFL Draft grade for Devontez Walker: A

Walker, a Kent State transfer who missed four games due to an eligibility issue, caught 41 passed for 699 yards (17.0 yards per catch) and seven touchdowns during his lone season as a Tar Heel. Walker was Drake Maye's top vertical target in Chapel Hill.

Walker slipped for a reason, as some were concerned about the limited route tree he had at his disposal in North Carolina in addition to some iffy results when it came to beating press coverage. Those can be offset by the fact Baltimore will likely put him in a special role to take advantage of his speed downfield.

With some of the best ball skills in the ACC and tremendous contested catch skills, Walker fits the archetype of a boundary receiver who can burn up the track and reel in Jackson bombs down the field. He should compete with Nelson Agholor for the WR3 role, as he is an exaggerated version.

With Troy Franklin off the board, Walker was the best available receiver left on the board. Landing a talent that should not have left Day 2 at No. 113 overall while filling a need only adds to another strong draft class from DeCosta.