The team’s top executive doubled down on his pro comp for the potential fourth-round steal.
The Baltimore Ravens have found several steals and hidden gems on Day 3 of the NFL Draft over the years who have gone on to become elite players, perennial Pro Bowlers or at least consistent contributors at their positions during their respective careers.
However, it’s hard to recall a time in recent memory where a mid-round pick has garnered as much fanfare and excitement from both the organization and fanbase as fourth-round wide receiver Devontez Walker has since he was selected No. 113 overall in this year’s draft. He is viewed as one of the draft’s biggest steals given his talent but because of the incredible depth in this year’s class, lasted until early Day 3.
When sharing the vision and role the team can see the former UNC-Chapel Hill standout playing within the offense on the Lounge Podcast last week, the first comparison general manager Eric DeCosta made was to former Ravens wideout Torrey Smith. In a Q&A with reporters on Wednesday night, he doubled down on the accurate pro comp for the young big-bodied speedster.
Is the next @TorreySmithWR on the roster? pic.twitter.com/1StTq7n5pA
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) May 8, 2024
“I say would size and speed [and] big playability outside,” DeCosta said. “[Can] take the top off, catch the ball and go can break a tackle.”
Smith spent the first four years of his career as the primary deep threat in the Ravens offense, catching touchdowns and drawing key pass interference penalties in big games including the team’s magical run to the Super Bowl in 2012. He was originally selected in the second round of the 2011 NFL Draft out of Maryland after the team controversy passed over him in the first round to take former standout cornerback Jimmy Smith in the first.
“I loved Torrey’s game,” DeCosta said. “We were so happy to draft Torrey when we did. He fell to us and it was longest day. We had drafted Jimmy and then you know that draft I tore my Achilles. I was highly medicated. I had just had surgery like, just right before that, you know, that draft was my son had just been born, my wife was gonna divorce me because I had tore my Achilles and couldn’t drive and we got both those guys.”
“It was controversial with Jimmy and then we turned around and got Torrey and we were very happy. I mean Tory saved me because the whole fiasco with Jimmy was you know the pick and the trade and all that you know, we had the free fourth round pick it fell through. But Torrey was the guy that we all love because he was a great kid.”
In addition to being blazing speedsters coming out of college, both Smith and Walker overcame significant adversity before even entering the league which made them high-character prospects as well as alluring athletes.
DeCosta admitted that Smith didn’t have “the cleanest hands” and struggled with the occasional drop but praised him for being a great practice player, teammate and timely big-play threat when the offense needed it most.
“You could count on him as a glue guy,” DeCosta said. “I just think Tez has a has a lot of the same qualities.”
While Walker struggled with some concentration drops during an up-and-down week of practice at the 2024 Reese’s Senior Bowl, his tape from the 2023 season showed a pass catcher with strong and consistent hands who was credited with just two drops in nine games.
Smith was thrust into the starting lineup as a rookie and ran with it, setting several of the rookie records that 2023 first-rounder Zay Flowers broke last season. He played eight seasons in total with the bulk coming with the Ravens and finished his career with 319 receptions, 5,141 receiving yards, 41 touchdowns, a career average of 16.1 yards per catch and won another Super Bowl in 2017 with the Philadelphia Eagles.
Walker won’t have the pressure of being forced to play a major role as a rookie with Flowers and 2021 first-rounder Rashod Bateman entrenched as starters and veteran Agholor also playing regularly. He’ll be able to focus on being the primary deep threat in the Ravens still evolving passing attack while expounding his route tree and opening up more space for others to work with underneath and at the intermediate level of the field.