Ravens coach John Harbaugh spent part of the offseason championing his young wide receiver group.
Harbaugh is confident that Zay Flowers, Rashod Bateman, Nelson Agholor, Tylan Wallace, and rookie Devontez Walker will be productive in catching passes from two-time NFL MVP Lamar Jackson, regardless of what critics say about their potential production.
However, none of those players have surpassed 1,000 receiving yards in a season. Uncertainty about wide receiver production could hamper the Ravens’ Super Bowl aspirations.
“I’m excited about the wide receiver position,” Harbaugh said in the preseason. “This is a very talented group, and whoever wants to challenge them, go for it. You’ve got to line up and play against us, and we’ll see if we don’t have guys running around and making plays.”
Flowers, the No. 22 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 further progress this season as he becomes more comfortable with the speed of the NFL. Flowers is much more comfortable playing under second-year offensive coordinator Todd Monken.
“We had a tough training camp, so everyone on our team is ready,” Flowers said. “We’ll be ready to play. Our coach [el coordinador ofensivo Todd Monken] put together a great game plan for us, so we’ll be prepared to play our [estilo de] soccer”.
Bateman, the No. 27 overall pick in the 2021 draft, could be under the most pressure after signing a two-year, $12.87 million contract extension in April. Bateman has been plagued by injuries throughout his career.
As a rookie, he underwent hernia surgery that sidelined him for the first six games. The following year, he underwent 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 spread the field.
“Baltimore drafted me and there’s been a lot of comments about me, but at the end of the day, I love playing here. I 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 what’s right for the city. [y] Show the kids they can trust me, show the city they can trust me [y] Show those things to the coaching staff, too. 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 deal this offseason. He has caught 35 passes for 381 yards and four touchdowns in 2023. He is the oldest player in the group and had a solid training camp.
“Well, first of all, I’m blessed to be in my 10th year. I mean, if you told me as a kid that I played 10 years in the National Football League and I felt the way I do, I would scratch my head, because I feel great and I have a lot of fun doing what I do,” Agholor said. “I can run around all day and have fun, so it’s a blessing. But to do it here… this place makes it even more enjoyable.
“This is a family. It’s my home, my familiarity, and a great group of guys. 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 have fun with each other. So I couldn’t be happier to be playing my 10th year in Baltimore, living here and doing what I do.”
Wallace may have had the best training camp of any wide receiver and played well in preseason games. While Wallace’s role has been primarily on special teams, Harbaugh envisions him having a larger role on offense.
“I think Tylan Wallace is going to have opportunities everywhere, offensively and on special teams,” Harbaugh said. “He looked good; he made a couple of nice plays today, obviously, like he does every day. I’m looking forward to seeing how he does this year.”
Walker, the team’s fourth-round pick in the NFL this year, suffered a rib injury in training camp. He’s more of a developmental player and will need to earn time this season by performing well in practice.
Deonte Harty also joined the team as the sixth wide receiver, but will primarily play special teams as the starting defensive back.
