Devontez Walker is not your typical fourth-round draft pick, experiencing his first week of NFL training camp. But then again, Walker probably should not have fallen to the fourth round.
Controversially, Walker missed the first four games of his final college season when the NCAA ruled him ineligible. When he returned, he dominated for the North Carolina Tar Heels, and many projected him to be a second or third-rounder.
Walker himself was convinced that the division rival Cincinnati Bengals would take him a full round earlier than Baltimore actually did. He admitted that this perceived slight has motivated him to prove them wrong.
You can see his inspiration thus far, as he’s making plays in practice that are turning the heads of the coaching staff.
On Friday, he had a highlight reel grab that was considered the day’s best play.
.@DevontezWalker ❗❗ pic.twitter.com/zcDuwdAv8M
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) July 26, 2024
“Tez is doing a great job stacking practices,” coach John Harbaugh said before describing the fade route and its execution by Walker, which inspired awe.
“I had a plan there. We were going to go three plays, we were going to go tackling with the young guys to start the camp off, and Todd [Monken] calls the fade, and, ‘Boop,’ put it up there, and ‘Tez’ makes the play, and [the] period is over.
“That can happen.”