Tag: Tez Walker

Tez Walker gets one target in preseason debut

Devontez Walker didn’t have the debut we hoped, but there is light at the end of the tunnel!

The Baltimore Ravens took on the Philadelphia Eagles in the first week of the preseason for the NFL. A highly anticipated game for North Carolina Tar Heel fans with receiver Devontez Walker getting his first action after all the drama that happened last season.

Well, the debut was not like we had hoped. We were anticipating getting a wide range of Walker usage, and it took a painfully long time just for Walker to make his way out onto the field for his first drive. On top of that, Walker received just one target over the course of the little time he did see in action.

His minimal impact was not all on little playing time. In one of the plays he was involved in, he was streaking free on a breakaway one step ahead of his defender and Josh Johnson didn’t have the time in the pocket to get the ball out to him.

Regardless, Walker’s involvement was questionable.

That could lead us to believe in two different ways. Firstly, Walker’s chances of being the WR3 are not as high as we thought they were. Secondly, and most likely, he is solidified in the first-team offense that didn’t see much work at all.

Receivers Zay Flowers, Rashod Bateman, and Nelson Agholor weren’t heavily involved if at all either. It is likely that as the preseason goes on, we will see more of the Tar Heel product.

Follow us @TarHeelsWire on X and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of North Carolina Tar Heels news, notes and opinions.

Patriots pass on QB Drake Maye’s favorite target as WR pick

The Patriots had the chance to select Drake Maye’s former teammate but opted for a different receiver.

The New England Patriots used the No. 3 overall pick on former North Carolina quarterback Drake Maye. They have basically handed over the future of the franchise to Maye and that leadership role took effect immediately when, as Maye pointed out, the team was in contact with him about the rest of the picks.

“Yeah, they were kinda keying me in on what they were thinking before they selected them,” Maye said. “I think as a rookie quarterback you don’t expect to have much say.”

This is fascinating information given how the draft played out. The Patriots selected UCF wide receiver Javon Baker with the No. 10 pick in the fourth round. Baker is an Alabama transfer and a solid prospect. But just three picks later, the Baltimore Ravens selected wide receiver Tez Walker. Walker was Maye’s favorite last season at North Carolina.

Did Maye not want his former teammate and favorite target on New England with him or did the Patriots front office make the call without his input?

 

Eric DeCosta says Devontez Walker reminds him of Torrey Smith

The Baltimore Ravens wrapped up the 2024 NFL Draft with a total of nine selections. Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta gave his assessment of each player, including fourth-round wide receiver Devontez Walker, who DeCosta said reminded him of former …

The Baltimore Ravens wrapped up the 2024 NFL Draft with a total of nine selections. Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta gave his assessment of each player, including fourth-round wide receiver Devontez Walker, who DeCosta said reminded him of former Baltimore receiver Torrey Smith.

“With ‘Tez,’ you get really a vertical receiver, size and speed,” DeCosta said. “In some ways, [he] reminds me of a Torrey Smith-type of player – an outside, take-the-top-off, vertical threat with good size, and phenomenal kid, excellent jumping ability.”

Baltimore drafted Smith out of Maryland with the No. 58 overall pick in the second round of the 2011 NFL Draft. Despite only playing four seasons with the Ravens, Smith made his impact felt and was a critical piece to the team’s 2012 Super Bowl run, including a two-touchdown performance against the Denver Broncos in the Divisional Round.

Walker will have an opportunity to earn snaps on offense after the seeming departure of veteran wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. left a void to be filled. Baltimore has lacked a true deep threat since trading away Marquise Brown to the Arizona Cardinals during the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft. Even in an MVP season, quarterback Lamar Jackson struggled to connect on deep passes throughout the year. With a true speed threat like Walker added to the mix now, Jackson will hopefully get back to hitting on more deep shots to keep defenses honest.

Why star UNC wideout Tez Walker is a good NFL Draft selection for Baltimore Ravens

UNC standout Tez Walker is an immediate upgrade on the Baltimore Ravens’ wide receiving corps.

It’s Saturday, April 27 and Day 3 of the 2024 NFL Draft is underway.

Saturday’s first pick went to the Carolina Panthers, who selected Texas tight end Ja’Tavion Sanders with the 101st overall pick. The Denver Broncos then selected Oregon wide receiver Troy Franklin, followed by the New England Patriots’ pick of Texas A&M guard Layden Robinson, who gives former UNC standout quarterback Drake Maye a strong pass-blocker Up East.

Another former Tar Heel was taken later in the fourth round on Saturday, with star wideout Tez Walker chosen 113th overall by the Baltimore Ravens. Walker gives 2-time NFL MVP Lamar Jackson yet another speedy wideout.

If you know anything about Baltimore, its receiving corps is largely unproven. The Ravens did select Zay Flowers in the first round of last year’s NFL Draft – he is a budding star wideout – but there’s not much consistency behind him.

Tez, as Tar Heel Nation calls him, is an immediate upgrade on a receiving corps that also includes Nelson Agholor and Rashod Bateman.

In just eight games last season for UNC – his time was shortened due to an initial ineligibility ruling by the NCAA – Walker led North Carolina with seven touchdown receptions. He caught 41 passes for 691 yards, second most on the Tar Heel behind J.J. Jones.

The year before at Kent State, Walker was nearly a 1,000-yard receiver while catching 11 touchdown passes.

Walker is lightning-fast, tying for the fifth-fastest 40-yard dash time at the 2024 NFL Combine, by running a 4.36.

The main reasons Walker’s a great fit in Baltimore? He can help create good separation for the Ravens’ other receivers, plus he’s shown the ability to put up big numbers in a short period of time.

Who knows, maybe Walker is starting by season’s end? If Walker’s UNC days are any indication of his pro career, Baltimore is getting a steal in the NFL Draft.

Follow us @TarHeelsWire on X and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of North Carolina Tar Heels news, notes and opinions.

Ravens select UNC WR Devontez Walker with No. 113 overall pick in 2024 NFL draft

With Baltimore in a position to draft the best player available, GM Eric DeCosta added a wide receiver to the roster in the fourth round. The Ravens selected UNC wide receiver DeVontez Walker with the 113th overall pick. Welcome to Baltimore, …

With Baltimore in a position to draft the best player available, GM Eric DeCosta added a wide receiver to the roster in the fourth round.

The Ravens selected UNC wide receiver DeVontez Walker with the 113th overall pick.

Walker is a legit vertical threat with 4.36 speed who is still developing his route tree, and the ability to beat press coverage.

Walker had 41 catches for 699 yards and seven touchdowns in his final season with the Tarheels after he Missed four games over eligibility issue.

Jaguars to host UNC WR Devontez Walker on visit, per report

The Jaguars have reportedly shown interest in Drake Maye’s favorite touchdown target.

The Jacksonville Jaguars met with North Carolina wide receiver Devontez Walker prior to his pro day workout and will host him on a Top 30 visit, according to SportsKeeda draft insider Tony Pauline.

Walker, 22, received attention in 2023 after he was initially deemed ineligible to play for the Tarheels after the NCAA ruled he was a two-time transfer due to his previous stints at North Carolina Central and Kent State, despite never playing at NCC due to COVID-19.

After missing four games, Walker was reinstated for the remainder of the year. In eight games with UNC, Walker recorded 41 receptions for 699 yards and seven touchdowns.

At the 2024 NFL Scouting Combine, Walker measured in at 6’2, 193 pounds and recorded a 4.36 40-yard dash with a 40.5-inch vertical jump. He’s been projected by most to be a Day 2 selection in April.

Other players set to visit the Jaguars ahead of the 2024 NFL draft reportedly include Western Michigan defensive end Marshawn Kneeland and Ole Miss cornerback Deantre Prince.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

Steelers send OC to North Carolina pro day for top wide receiver

Tez Walker is one of the more interseting wide receiver prospects in the 2024 NFL draft.

According to ESPN reporter Brooke Pryor, Pittsburgh Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith was in attendance at the North Carolina Pro Day on Thursday. We assume he wasn’t there like most of the others who wanted a closer look at quarterback Drake Maye which means Pittsburgh sent their OC all the way there to check out star wide receiver Devontez “Tez” Walker.

Walker is a blazing speedster and an elite deep threat. He ran a 4.36-second 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine and the tape backs it up. Walker’s speed allows him to just eat up off coverage and his his acceleration takes advantage of any lapse in concentration.

Walker’s draft stock varies greatly depending on if you focus on his game-breaking speed or the rough spots in his footwork and route effort. We’ve seen Walker go as high as the second round in projections but we’d feel more comfortable if Pittsburgh could land him in the third where his value lines up a little better.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

PHOTOS: Tez Walker at 2024 NFL Scouting Combine

Photos of UNC football wide receiver Tez Walker at the 2024 NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis.

The 2024 NFL scouting combine is in the books as the NFL world descended on Indianapolis for the annual event. Teams, agents, prospects, media, and fans took in the event as the next big step in the draft process is over.

For the North Carolina Tar Heels, they sent four players to Indianapolis to participate with Drake Maye, Tez Walker, Cedric Gray, and Myles Murphy were selected to go and try to improve their draft stock.

With just under two months to go until the actual 2024 NFL draft, the next big event will be UNC’s pro day and then top 30 visits. But before we get there, let’s look at the photos from Walker at the combine.

Panthers mock draft roundup 1.0: Tracking the latest 2024 projections

Early (multi-round)mock drafts are sending some of the nation’s top wideouts to Carolina.

In case you haven’t heard, the Carolina Panthers don’t have a first-round pick in the 2024 NFL draft.

Yeah, yeah, we know. This is a particularly tough year not to have one considering, well, it’d be the No. 1. Alas, we shall trek and track forward.

So, instead of tracking mock drafts this offseason for Carolina’s first-round projections (because we can’t), we’ll search for the predictions on their second-round pick—their first of the spring.

Here is our opening edition of the 2024 mock draft roundup:

Browns get aggressive to add a dynamic playmaker in 2024 NFL draft mock

The Browns could get aggressive to add a dynamic playmaker

On Thursday night at the NFL Honors members of the Cleveland Browns cleaned up winning all four awards that they were nominated for. They now turn their attention toward free agency and the 2024 NFL draft.

General manager Andrew Berry and head coach Kevin Stefanski have started on the journey to improve in 2024 by first changing up the offensive coaching staff in hopes of becoming more dynamic and productive next year.

They have to add dynamic playmakers on the offensive side of the ball to get more explosive and vertical if they take the next step toward winning a championship. We have seen Berry get aggressive in adding playmakers before could this draft be one where he moves up and takes one of the talented wide receivers in this loaded class?

The foundation for success has been laid in Cleveland and things are better than they have been since the return adding a little more vertically to the offense could be what puts them over the top.