Ravens Go WR, CB, RB with First 3 Picks on Day 3

With their first three picks on Day 3 of the 2024 NFL Draft, the Baltimore Ravens selected North Carolina WR Devontez Walker, Iowa State CB T.J. Tampa, and Marshall RB Rasheen Ali.

RSR staff react to the picks here.

Prospect Profile: Devontez Walker, WR, North Carolina

Darin McCann

Devontez Walker

I love this pick, largely because this is a great point in a top-heavy draft to take a swing on an athletic “freak” with top-level potential. Walker struggled with drops during a difficult Senior Bowl week, but really stood out on tape for his explosive traits and an ability to make contested catches. I’d consider him low-floor, high-ceiling… with the caveat that he is always a threat to make an explosive play. That probably raises the floor a little.

T.J. Tampa

This is an interesting pick, and Tampa brings a different skill set than first-round pick Nate Wiggins. Tampa plays with more physicality, and with less speed — but a basketball highlight on NFL Network showed that he has plenty of athleticism. There will be some competition for spots this summer, and a few veterans might find themselves fighting for a spot on the roster.

Rasheen Ali

A decisive runner who seems to make good decisions on his cuts and shows some contact balance in the limited video I’ve seen of him. I wouldn’t necessarily call him electric, but he can play, runs hard, and should be a good rotational piece.

Jared Pinder

Tez Walker adds verticality to the Ravens offense. The way he runs routes is special. He just glides around the football field and has that extra gear to turn any catch into a big gain. He does have drop issues and he probably won’t impact the field much this year but he adds that speed element the Ravens didn’t have.

T.J. Tampa was a player I was much lower on than the consensus opinion. I had a fourth round grade on him and my biggest issue is that he is stiff. He doesn’t have quick hips and can’t turn and run well so it limits his upside. In this spot though I am fine with him. He is competitive with the ball in the air and has good press technique, but that lack of speed limits his upside.

Taking a running back in this draft was basically a foregone conclusion in the later rounds so it is good to see Ali get picked here. He is basically a younger Gus Edwards type of back and he will absolutely run you over.  He is a great backup to Derrick Henry right away and adds that power element missing with Gus and Dobbins gone.

Chad Racine

So far through rounds four and five, it’s been skill position Saturday. In the first 4th round pick landing a speedy wide receiver in Devontez Walker. It’s a position of need and also looks like a value pick in the 4th. The board appeared to line up perfectly for the Ravens needs.

With the second 4th round pick the Ravens land another outside corner in T.J Tampa. While this pick is probably less need and more luxury, the value was too good to pass on. Projected as a possible round 2 selection it’s clear why he was taken here late in the fourth.

With the only 5th round pick DeCosta filled out the depth in the running back room with Rasheed Ali out of Marshall. With Keaton Mitchell sidelined it was imperative the Ravens got some running back depth.

With the remaining 6th and 7th rounds I expect at least another offensive lineman and a safety to be drafted.

Prospect Profile: T.J. Tampa, CB, Iowa State

Kevin McNelis

The Tez Walker selection drew a “Hell yeah” from me when it was announced. For a receiver who stands 6’2” and 200 pounds, he’s slippery in coverage because he focused on angles and leverage. Contested catches near the boundary were pretty impressive, but his best work is when he hauls in passes in stride and focuses on just slipping and shedding defenders. Walker doesn’t have a ton of top-tier experience, but his upside is VERY high.

The TJ Tampa selection feels like shooting for the upside on a corner that teams seem to view as a boom or bust candidate, which I suspect is why he fell that far. I saw so many boards that had Tampa projected as a second rounder, and when you watch his instincts and range defending the pass, you can see why. He’s not afraid to meet running backs in the gap, either, but similarly to Wiggins, his tall, slender frame will probably require some beefing up. If he can work with this staff to get a little stronger and refine his game some, he’s going to make a great addition to the secondary.

In the 5th, they grab Marshall RB Rasheen Ali, whose burst and one-cut power are similar to Keaton Mitchell’s, without quite the same shiftiness due to his larger frame (5’11” and around 205 lbs). Ali suffered a bicep injury during the Senior Bowl that held him out for the Combine, so maybe Baltimore is operating under the assumption that Ali’s superior testing would’ve boosted his profile above some of the other RBs that have already gone. He does clock a 4.4 40 and reportedly had a 36” vertical. Ali will likely get some work early in the year while Keaton Mitchell recovers from his ACL injury, but we’ll see how he fits. Of the picks so far, this one comes with the most question marks, but a lot of upside.

Rob Shields

The Ravens are really nailing this draft.

Last night, DeCosta talked about not needing to draft for need and being able to just attack BPA today.  Well, I don’t think they entered this draft thinking they would take two CBs but T.J. Tampa surprisingly falling made it an easy decision.  Pepe Williams and/or Armour-Davis are now in jeopardy of losing their roster spot.

The Ravens added a much needed depth threat WR in Devontez Walker.  He has a huge RAS score and gives the Ravens a take the top off the defense threat.

In the 5th round, the Ravens added Marshall RB Rasheen Ali, a highly productive RB would good hands and a lot of explosiveness.  DeCosta said they were going to a RB and while Ali maybe wasn’t one of the “sexy names,” he has the traits you like and could do well in the Monken system.

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