Stop me if you’ve heard this before: the Ravens need to add more talent to their wide receiver room.
Zay Flowers has established himself as an elite talent, but Rashod Bateman took a step back last year and Devontez Walker has only 11 career targets (albeit for 157 yards and four touchdowns). I am still a big believer in Bateman, and I think Walker can step up in 2026. And yet…
Couldn’t the Ravens always stand to add to Lamar Jackson’s assortment of weapons? The depth is thin behind that top trio after the departures of DeAndre Hopkins and Tylan Wallace. Baltimore should consider bringing Hopkins back after the draft, but that should not stop them from targeting a wideout, potentially with a premium pick. Here are their best options (with selected scouting notes):
1. Carnell Tate, Ohio State (No. 3 on Baltimore Beatdown’s Big Board)
Flexible route-runner that is able to leverage his vertical ability and sink hips for separation. Strong at the catch point and contorts his body to play the ball.
Great route-runner with high awareness to leverage linebackers and slot corners in zone coverage. Knows where to sit down. Hits a second gear in open space.
Injury concerns around Tyson have lessened significantly in recent weeks. His tape shows a one-of-a-kind mover with good footwork as a route-runner and reliable hands at th catch point. He can flip his hips in an instant on in- and out-breaking routes and is great with the ball in his hands. One criticism Beatdown does not share with other scouting reports is competitive toughness. Tyson’s ‘want-to’ was consistently on display in college, as evidenced by his repeated willingness to play through injuries, but taking care of his body must be a priority in the pros.
Efficient route-runner that sinks his hips on breaks at the stem at a high level. Strong at the catch point and has athleticism to make acrobatic plays on the ball.
Three-level separator that has lower-half torsion to break tackles after that catch. Decelerates efficiently and can turn a quick slant into an 80-yard td.
X reciever and red zone threat that plays above the rim. Underrated route-running ability and leverage creation at the catch point.
Explosive WR that runs through the catch point and gains ground quickly in the open field. Has requisite lower half flexibility to line up in the slot and make quick cuts within his route.
An explosive WR that is able to use his top-end speed and set up corners to open their hips. Sinks down and break his routes quickly. Fluid mover that can contort his body to play the ball.
12. Bryce Lance, North Dakota State (No. 69 overall)
Lance is a freaky athlete with a 6-foot-4 frame who ran a 4.34-second 40-yard dash at the Combine to go along with elite jumping numbers and a strong shuttle drill (9.95 RAS). He is still figuring out how to use his athleticism as a route-runner, but he knows how to use his size at the catch point to box out defenders and high-point the football. Harnessing his movement skills could make him a high-level separator, but there is plenty of technique to improve. Lance attacks corners in the run game and contributes on special teams, which should get him on the field right away in Baltimore.
Fields turned heads at the Senior Bowl, but his speed is a major question mark after a 4.61-second 40-yard dash at the Combine (7.49 RAS). His 6-foot-4, 220-pound frame fits the Ravens’ need for size and physicality in their receiver room, but it shows up most as a blocker, not as a physical X receiver. Fields is a fluid route-runner for his size, but he will struggle to consistently separate in the pros and currently does not maximize his physicality to compensate.
14. De’Zhaun Stribling, Mississippi (No. 77 overall)
Stribing is an athletic, physical X receiver who brings a true tone-setting presence as a road-grading run blocker on the perimeter. His strength and balance shows up at the catch point and with the ball in his hands – 335 of his 612 receiving yards in 2025 came after the catch. His 10-inch hands are strong and reliable with just one drop in 2025, reinforcing his consistency in contested situations. He also has the vertical ability to take the top off a defense while offering a well-rounded skill set that impacts both the passing and run game. Ravens GM Eric DeCosta has been on the record longing for an X WR; Stribling would be the perfect solution to that. He would pair well with Lamar Jackson’s play extension ability and replace some of Likely’s basketball-like catches.
19. Eric McAlister, Texas Christian (No. 122 overall)
23. Brenen Thompson, Mississippi State (No. 150 overall)
26. Ja’Kobi Lane, Southern California (No. 157 overall)