This story was originally published by Dead Spin
Ravens coach John Harbaugh spent part of the offseason defending his young group of wide receivers.
Harbaugh is confident that Zay Flowers, Rashod Bateman, Nelson Agholor, Tylan Wallace and rookie Devontez Walker will be productive catching passes from two-time NFL MVP Lamar Jackson, regardless of what the critics say about their potential production.
However, none of those players have yet to eclipse 1,000 yards receiving in a season. The uncertainty surrounding the production of the wide receivers could hinder the Ravens’ Super Bowl aspirations.
“I’m excited about the wide receiver position,” Harbaugh said this offseason. “This is a very talented group, and anybody that wants to challenge that, bring it on. You’ve got to line up and play against us, and we’ll see if we don’t have playmakers out there running around [and] making plays.”
Flowers, the 22nd overall pick in the 2023 draft, led the team with 77 receptions for 858 yards and five touchdowns as a rookie. He is expected to make more strides this season as he becomes more comfortable with the speed of the NFL. Flowers is much more comfortable playing in the system under second-year offensive coordinator Todd Monken.
“We had a hard training camp, so everybody on our team is ready,” Flowers said. “We’re going to be ready to go [and] ready to play. Our coach [offensive coordinator Todd Monken] put together a great game plan for us, so we’re going to get ready to play our [style of] football.”
Bateman, the 27th overall pick in the 2021 draft, might be under the most pressure after signing a two-year, $12.87 million contract extension in April. Bateman has been hampered by various injuries throughout his career.
As a rookie, he had hernia surgery that sidelined him for the first six games. The following year, he had foot surgery and was placed on injured reserve after six games.
In 2023, Bateman appeared in 16 regular-season games and finished fifth on the team with 32 receptions for 367 yards and a touchdown. The key for Bateman is to develop a better rapport with Jackson and help the offense stretch the field.
“Baltimore drafted me, and there’s been a lot of ‘he say, she say’ about me, but at the end of the day, I love playing here. I do love Baltimore,” Bateman said before the regular-season opener against the Kansas City Chiefs. “I love my teammates. So, for me, I just want to go out and do it right for the city [and] show those guys that they can depend on me, show the city that you can depend on me [and] show the coaching staff those things as well. So, I’m definitely excited to go out, and hopefully, bring a Super Bowl back to Baltimore.”
The Ravens re-signed Agholor to a one-year extension this offseason. He caught 35 passes for 381 yards and four touchdowns in 2023. He is the most veteran player in the group and had a solid training camp.
“Well, first of all, I’m blessed to be in Year 10. Like, I mean, if you told me as a child [that] I played 10 years in the National Football League and feel the way I feel, I would scratch my head, because I feel amazing, [and] I have a lot of fun doing what I do,” Agholor said. “I can run all day and have a good time, so that’s a blessing. But then to do it here—this place makes it even more enjoyable.
“This is family. This is home, familiarity and just a great group of dudes. From my quarterback to the guys I play receiver with, to the guys I practice with every day on the defensive side of the ball, they make me better, but we also just enjoy each other. So, I couldn’t be more happy that I get to play Year 10 in Baltimore and live here and do what I do.”
Wallace might have had the best training camp among all of the wide receivers and played well in the preseason games. While Wallace’s role has been mostly on special teams, Harbaugh envisions him having a bigger role in the offense.
“I think Tylan [Wallace] is going to get opportunities everywhere – offense and special teams,” Harbaugh said. “He has looked good; [he] had a couple of nice plays out there today, of course, like he does really every day. I’m looking forward to seeing how he does this year.”
Walker, the team’s fourth-round pick in this year’s NFL, dealt with a rib injury in training camp. He is more of a developmental player and will have to earn playing time this season by performing well in practice.
Deonte Harty also made the team as the sixth wide receiver, but he will mostly play special teams as the starting returner.
