ExtremeRavens Posted yesterday at 07:03 PM Posted yesterday at 07:03 PM INDIANAPOLIS — There is no position on the Ravens’ roster more polarizing than wide receiver. The label is inherent to the job, which is high volume/limited opportunity, high pressure and highly visible. But it has also been a particular issue for Baltimore through the years. Since 2019 — Lamar Jackson’s first year as a full-time starter and second in the NFL — the Ravens have drafted nine receivers, including three in the first round. Only once during that span — in 2022 — did they not use at least one draft pick on the position. So it’s of little surprise that some draftniks have mocked them adding to that total with the 14th overall selection this year. While not the most pressing need, it is a group that will be bolstered given a lack of depth. Two of those previous first-round picks, Rashod Bateman and Zay Flowers, are expected to occupy the first two spots on the depth chart for the 2026 season — unless Baltimore were to trade the former, something that nearly happened with the Dallas Cowboys last offseason before the two sides reached a stalemate over compensation that included a second-round pick. And now that the Philadelphia Eagles are apparently at least open to the idea of potentially dealing disgruntled star A.J. Brown, it’s at least possible the Ravens could be a willing partner. No matter the scenario, though, the drop is steep for the Ravens beyond their top two receivers, whomever they are. DeAndre Hopkins, who will turn 34 in June, is due to be a free agent and not expected to be back after a middling season of 22 catches on 39 targets for 330 yards and two touchdowns. Tylan Wallace is likewise slated to be a free agent and while a valuable special teams contributor has yet to break through offensively with 22 catches for 305 yards and two scores across five seasons. Devontez Walker, who is going into his third year, is still developing. LaJohntay Wester, who spent his rookie season as the Ravens’ punt returner last year, still has a ways to go to have a role on offense. The Ravens’ only other receivers – veteran Keith Kirkwood and 2024 Los Angeles Chargers seventh-round draft pick Cornelius Johnson – spent last season on the practice squad. Enter this year’s draft class, which is considered to be relatively deep with some strong-if-not-spectacular top-end talent. At the top of that list are Ohio State’s Carnell Tate, Arizona State’s Jordyn Tyson and USC’s Makai Lemon. Here’s a closer look at each. Carnell Tate Of that trio, Tate is perhaps the most tantalizing prospect. At 6-foot-3, 195 pounds, he’s primarily an “X” receiver in the mold of New Orleans Saints star Chris Olave with good size but better speed and fluidity on intermediate and deep routes. Last season was his breakout for the Buckeyes with 51 catches for 875 yards and nine touchdowns, and his polish, catch radius and elite hands will be coveted, especially for teams looking for big-play ability. Last season, Tate had 11 catches of at least 30 yards, which ranked sixth in FBS. Carnell Tate is one of the most impressive vertical threats in the 2026 NFL Draft pic.twitter.com/i1rXO6q13u — NFL Draft Files (@NFL_DF) February 20, 2026 He also has no shortage of swagger. Asked Friday who the best wide receiver in the draft is, he said, “Me, no question. I bring it all to the table. Whatever you need to do, I got it. “If you want a game-changer, you got one right here.” The Jets, Giants, Browns and Saints were all among the teams he met with this week, though, and all of them pick before the Ravens and likewise have a need at wide receiver. Still, if Tate were somehow still available at No. 14, general manager Eric DeCosta, who said taking the best available player is in his DNA, could be hard-pressed to pass him up. Jordyn Tyson The biggest question over the 6-2, 200-pound Tyson is his checkered injury history. In 2022, he tore his ACL, MCL and PCL, causing him to miss 15 combined games across that season and the next for Colorado. In 2024 at Arizona State, he broke his collarbone late in the year and missed the Big 12 title game and College Football Playoff. Last season, a nagging hamstring injury resulted in him missing three games and kept him from participating in on-field drills and workouts at the scouting combine. “The first two are mechanism injuries, you can’t really help it,” he said Friday. “We play a physical sport.” Tyson added that he’d never had a soft-tissue injury before, so he’s still working through that with his hamstring, but insisted that he has showed an ability to bounce back. When healthy, he was prolific. As a junior at Arizona State in 2024, he had 75 catches for 1,101 yards and 10 touchdowns. Last season, he had 61 catches for 711 yards and eight scores in nine games. Another boundary receiver with a draft comp of Terry McLaurin and under Sun Devils wide receivers coach and former Steelers star Hines Ward, Tyson likewise has a chance to be a mid-to-late first round pick. He also met with the Ravens, among many other teams, this week. “That’d be amazing,” he said of the potential of playing with Lamar Jackson. “I feel like I could help the team for sure.” He also noted that Baltimore, as others did, tried to trip him up with some of their questions to test his knowledge and see how he would respond, but that he didn’t fall for it. Makai Lemon As the 5-11, 195-pound Lemon stepped behind the microphone Friday, he carried an intensity and focus that also spoke to his confidence and determination. Lemon said that he has an “unwavering ability” to “never back down” when things don’t go right. “I’m never gonna tuck my tail,” he said, adding that he wants to dominate because he takes the game very seriously since it’s how he feeds his family. Understandably, his favorite receiver and the player he has drawn comparisons to is Detroit Lions star and USC alum Amon-Ra St. Brown. The two are built similarly and both have a certain grit and a willingness to impact the game without the ball in their hands. With the ball, Lemon was electric in college. Southern California wide receiver Makai Lemon speaks during a news conference at the NFL scouting combine. Lemon says blocking is one of the strength's of his game. (Julio Cortez/AP) Last season with the Trojans, he had 79 catches for 1,156 yards and nine touchdowns as a yards-after-catch monster. He also took home the Biletnikoff Award as the country’s top receiver and averaged an impressive 3.13 yards per route run, according to Pro Football Focus, along with 6.4 yards after catch per reception. “I can turn a 2-3 yard route into a big gain,” he said when asked his best trait. “And then my blocking, the way I can impact the team without the ball in my hands.” He added that two players he studies closely are Cincinnati Bengals star Ja’Marr Chase and Seattle Seahawks standout Jaxon Smith-Njigba. He also met with Baltimore and has known new wide receivers coach Keary Colbert, another USC alum, for years. “Lamar is one of the best quarterbacks, he could do many things with the ball in his hands,” said Lemon, who projects as a high-volume slot demon given who could ease that burden on Flowers. “To be in his offense and around that organization would be a blessing.” Now the only question is what will the Ravens do if any of them are available when they pick at No. 14? There are myriad needs, from offensive line to pass rush to cornerback, that they need to bolster in this year’s draft. The Ravens have also largely struggled when it comes to drafting and developing receivers, with only Flowers, a two-time Pro Bowl selection, an exception. But it will be an important position in 2026, too. “Receivers, they’re weapons on offense,” first-year coach Jesse Minter said this week. “They come in all different shapes and sizes, I would say, so [we’re looking for] guys that can be impactful with the ball in their hands. “Can they get open? Can they separate at the top of routes? Can they make contested catches? … and then how do they play without the ball, as well? What type of teammate are they? How do they play without the ball? You’re only going to get the ball in a great game eight or nine times. In a normal game, four or five times, so can they impact the game in other ways?” We’ll find out soon enough. Have a news tip? Contact Brian Wacker at bwacker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/brianwacker1. READERS RESPOND: Ravens fans want team to pick linemen in NFL draft View the full article Quote
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