Ravens coach John Harbaugh spent part of the offseason protecting his young wide receivers group.
Harbaugh is confident that Zay Flowers, Rashod Bateman, Nelson Agholor, Tylan Wallace and newcomer Devontez Walker will be able to catch passes from two-time NFL MVP Lamar Jackson, regardless of what critics say about their potential performances.
However, none of these players have yet gained 1,000 yards in a season. The uncertainty surrounding the production of wide receivers could hinder this game. Ravens’ Super Bowl aspirations,
“I’m excited about the wide receiver position,” Harbaugh said this offseason. “It’s a very talented group, and anybody who wants to challenge it should step up. You’ve got to line up and play against us, and we’ll see if we don’t have playmakers running around (and) making plays.”
Flowers, selected 22nd in the 2023 draft, led the team with 77 receptions for 858 yards and five touchdowns. He is expected to make further strides this season as he becomes more comfortable with the speed of the NFL. Flowers is more comfortable playing in the system under second-year offensive coordinator Todd Monken.
“We had a hard training camp, so every member of our team is ready,” Flowers said. “We’re ready to play. Our coach (offensive coordinator Todd Monken) has put together a great game plan for us, so we’re ready to play our (style of) football.”
Bateman, the 27th pick in the 2021 draft, may be under the most pressure after signing a two-year, $12.87 million contract extension in April. Bateman has struggled with multiple injuries throughout his career.
As a freshman, he had hernia surgery that forced him to miss 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 ranked fifth on the team with 32 receptions for 367 yards and a touchdown. It is important for Bateman to develop a better rapport with Jackson and Help spread the attack across the field,
“Baltimore picked me, and there’s been a lot of ‘he says, she says’ 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 it right for the city (and) show those guys they can depend on me, show the city you can depend on me (and) show the coaching staff those things, too. So, I’m definitely excited to go out, and hopefully bring a Super Bowl back to Baltimore.”
Ravens sign one-year extension with Agholor This offseason. He caught 35 passes for 381 yards and four touchdowns in 2023. He is the most experienced player in the group and had a solid training camp.
“First of all, I’m blessed to be in the 10th grade. Like, I mean, if you would have told me when I was a kid (that) I played 10 years in the National Football League and the way I feel, I would have scratched my head, because I feel amazing, (and) I have so much fun doing what I do,” Agholor said. “I can run around all day and have a good time, so that’s a blessing. But then to do it here — this place makes it even more fun.
“It’s family. It’s home, familiarity and a great group of friends. From my quarterback to the guys I play receiver with, the guys I practice with every day on the defensive side of the ball, they make me better, but we also enjoy each other. So, I couldn’t be happier that I get to play Year 10 in Baltimore and stay here and do my thing.”
Wallace may have had the best training camp of all wide receivers and performed well in preseason games. While Wallace’s role has mostly been on special teams, Harbaugh believes he should play a bigger role in the offense.
“I think Tylan (Wallace) will have opportunities everywhere — offensive and special teams,” Harbaugh said. “He looks good; (he) made some good plays today, of course, as he does every day really. I’m looking forward to seeing how he does this year.”
Walker, the team’s fourth-round pick in this year’s NFL draft, suffered a rib injury in training camp. He is a developmental player and will have to earn playing time this season by performing well in practice.
Deontay Harty is also on the team as the sixth wide receiver, but he will play mostly on special teams as the starting returner.