Ravens OC Todd Monken reveals rookie WR Devontez Walker’s traits

The potential fourth-round steal is already proving he is more than just a speedy deep threat.

Size and speed were the first attributes Baltimore Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta brought up when discussing why he used the first of the team’s two fourth-round picks in the 2024 NFL Draft on wide receiver Devontez Walker.

However, since he arrived at the team facility dating back to rookie minicamp, Walker has shown some alluring traits second-year offensive coordinator Todd Monken has been pleasantly surprised by including a high acumen for learning and more advanced route running than he expected given what he saw on his college tape.

“He is a quick learner. Let’s start with that,” Monken said. “That’s impressive, to show up and be able to play multiple spots. And it’s not just knowing your assignment, but I think he’s done a great job of executing a technique – does that make sense – because there are nuances to routes. It’s not just a drawing. There are other nuances with coverage and adjustments. That was something I wasn’t expecting, so that was what I’m excited about.”

Walker’s blazing 4.36-second 40-yard dash speed and length are evident and exciting for Monken who looks forward to continuing to develop his skill set to make him a well-rounded weapon at the next level.

“This is a great time to develop, and that’s what you love about this time of year, because after a couple weeks of the preseason, it’s go time,” Monken said. “It’s who are we [and] who plays, but at this point, how do we develop them – our skills – and then how do we drill it to get the most out of our players and create the best version of them.”

In college, Walker specialized in taking the top off of opposing defenses by running every vertical route there is including deep crossers, posts and go balls. His limited route tree wasn’t due to a lack of ability to run more nuanced route concepts but simply because it is how his coaches wanted to deploy and try to optimize his impact. Now that he is matriculated to the highest level of the sport, Walker wishes to refine every aspect of his game and be more than just a speedy field-stretcher for the Ravens.

“[With] my skillset, I feel like I can do a really good job getting over top of any defense,” Walker said during rookie minicamp. “The thing I’m trying to work on is underneath routes, like those routes 20-yards-and-under. Getting open in those types of spaces and things like that, that’s something I’ve been working on [in] minicamp and before minicamp when I was at home training. That’s something that’s going to be big.”

DeCosta likened Walker to former Ravens receiver Torrey Smith who was also a speedster and torched defenses for long gains and pass interference penalties deep down the field during his tenure with the team from 2011-2014 including a Super Bowl run in 2012. While the lofty comparison to a two-time Super Bowl champion with a similar skillset entering the league is pretty accurate, devolving into a complete receiver who can do it all will not only help Walker get on the field more but it will make the Ravens’ offense less predictable when he does check into games.