Don’t lock Devin Duvernay into a single role with the Ravens

After producing from the slot at Texas, wide receiver Devin Duvernay wants everyone to know he isn’t just a one-trick pony for the Ravens

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One of the main reasons why the Baltimore Ravens selected wide receiver Devin Duvernay in the 2020 NFL Draft was his blazing speed. Duvernay was clocked running a 4.39-second 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine. Many believe the Ravens will line up Duvernay as a slot receiver, but he was quick to point out he has more than one string to his bow.

“I feel like I can do both (play outside and in the slot),” Duvernay said at his press conference after being drafted. “My freshman year and senior year, I played strictly slot. My junior and sophomore years, I played strictly outside. So, I feel like I can be productive at both, and be able to move around on the field.”

Duvernay isn’t the only one that has a say in where he lines up. But when asked about the bevy of choices the Ravens have in the slot, coach John Harbaugh noted that they like to move their players around and don’t lock someone into a specific position.

“We don’t just have an X and a Z and an S and a Y, a U and an H,” Harbaugh said following the final day of the draft. “We play all the guys in different spots, the same as we do on defense.

“So really, I don’t think we really have a ‘slot’ player or an ‘outside’ player. You’ll see those guys play in all the different spots in different times. And then, we try to put them in position to do the things that they do well. The things you see Willie Snead doing are the things we think he does best, and he’s a very versatile player, for instance. We’ll try to do that with all the guys we have.”

While all the pre-draft talk had Duvernay playing in the slot, the thought of being pigeonholed was something he clearly wanted to put out of people’s minds. When asked what he brings to the Ravens, Duvernay talked about his intangibles first, mentioning his “versatility, toughness, physicality,” while also noting he can take on a number of different roles, like “being able to not just go deep but go short, take it the distance, be involved in the screen game and with blocking.” Duvernay said he’ll be “an all-around player” in Baltimore.

Harbaugh continued to back up Duvernay’s belief, dissuading anyone from believing either he or James Proche would be locked into one specific role or one specific spot on the field.

“So, when Devin [Duvernay] can go outside – and then James Proche has been outside, too – outside, inside, in motion, runs, twitch routes, out of the backfield.”

While this versatility will no doubt be utilized by offensive coordinator Greg Roman, it’s likely that Duvernay will spend a good deal of time in the slot for the Ravens. In 2019, Willie Snead led all Baltimore wide receivers with 409 snap slots, averaging 7.7 yards per target. Given his speed and all-round game, it would surprise no one if Duvernay was to eclipse these marks as a rookie.

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Devin Duvernay has his sights on emulating some Ravens greats

Meet one of the newest Baltimore Ravens, wide receiver Devin Duvernay

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After being taken in the third round of the 2020 NFL Draft, wide receiver Devin Duvernay was quick to establish what he will bring to the organization.

“I bring versatility, toughness, physicality, being able to not just go deep but go short, take it the distance, be involved in the screen game and with blocking,” Duvernay said at his introductory press conference. “I’ll kind of be an all-around player. I’m super excited.”

Duvernay thought he and the Ravens would be a “great fit” during the pre-draft process. He was thrilled to be compared to some past Ravens greats like Anquan Boldin and Derek Mason, but especially Steve Smith.

“Those are some great players, especially Steve Smith Sr,” Duvernay continued. “I grew up watching him and loved his game. He was kind of somebody I loved watching and wanted to be like – playing with that chip on my shoulder. It means a lot to get a comparison like that. I just have to keep working, continue to get better, and maybe I can be like them one day.”

If Duvernay wants to be considered one of Baltimore’s great wide receivers, it wouldn’t take much to make the top of the list. The Ravens have struggled to draft and develop receivers over the years. Torrey Smith has been their best homegrown talent, putting up 3,591 receiving yards and 30 receiving touchdowns over four years before leaving in free agency.

Steve Smith Sr. was with Baltimore for three seasons, though his second year saw him head to injured reserve after seven games due to an Achilles tear. But over 37 games with the Ravens, Smith caught 195 balls for 2,534 receiving yards and 14 receiving touchdowns. Despite his limited tenure in Baltimore, Smith is ranked 10th on the Ravens’ franchise receiving yards list, putting up the second-highest receiving yards-per-game average in franchise history.

Baltimore hopes to have ended their wide receiver woes and have some promising players on the roster now in addition to Duvernay. The Ravens’ first-round pick in the 2019 NFL Draft, Marquise Brown, had an outstanding rookie campaign even with injuries slowing him down. Miles Boykin, a third-round pick last year, showed flashes throughout the season.

If Duvernay continues to have the drive of Smith, it seems like a matter of time before he becomes one of Baltimore’s top options.

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Chase Claypool Pens Heartfelt Goodbye to Notre Dame Community

I don’t anticipate he’ll be knocking down the first round door but he’s going to bring a playmaking ability to someone at the next level for likely some great value.

It may not be the most prestigious award around but I’m sure Chase Claypool will be pleased to know he’s been named Fighting Irish Wire’s inaugural Man I’m Gonna Miss the Hell Outta Watching That Guy Each Saturday Award.

Myself and Jeff Feyerer decided that weeks ago but I’m finally getting around to letting the masses know on here.

Tuesday afternoon the NFL-bound Claypool offered a kind farewell to the Notre Dame family and everyone who made his career in South Bend possible.

In a class loaded with wide receiver talent I’m incredibly curious around what number Claypool will get selected at. He may not have truly elite speed but has unreal size and GUAGI (Go-Up-And-Get-It, h/t Matt Spiegel).

I don’t anticipate he’ll be knocking down the first round door but he’s going to bring a playmaking ability to someone at the next level for likely some great value.

Side note – he’s also a decent downfield blocker if any NFL GM needs another reason to be interested.