4th round (No. 129): WR Lynn Bowden, Jr., Kentucky
Bowden might be the most intriguing prospect in the 2020 NFL Draft. While he moved to quarterback in 2019, he projects more as a hybrid of a running back and wide receiver in the NFL. While not the most polished wide receiver in this draft, he might have the most upside as a slash player in the type of offense the Ravens run.
Bowden is fast, with a reported 4.38-second 40-yard dash time according to his high school coach Steven Arnold, per HailVarsity.com. Given his body type (5-foot-11 and 204 pounds), Bowden would look best as a slot receiver that can make things happen after the catch. He’s tough to bring down and has good vision to go with his speed, making him a big-play option in the middle of the field.
However, with Bowden seeing a position change, he isn’t very polished as a route runner and has a high fumble rate. Given his fourth-round draft status, Bowden clearly is a project that can be thrown on the field in specific packages to take advantage of his athleticism as a rookie. But he seems like a boom-or-bust type of prospect.
If the Ravens wanted a more polished but less athletic receiver, Quintez Cephus was still on the board at this point. Cephus has better hands, is a better route runner and still offers positive yardage after the catch thanks to his physicality but isn’t as electric or have as much upside.