Andrew Buller-Russ
At the top, the Baltimore Ravens have a clearly established group of starting receivers led by Zay Flowers and Rashod Bateman. Flowers is a two-time Pro Bowler who’s posted back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons. Despite being a former first-round pick, Bateman has yet to reach the Pro Bowl or top 1,000 yards in a single season.
Behind them, there are a lot of questions. For now, 2024 fourth-round pick Tez Walker seems to be the favorite to be the team’s No. 3 receiver this season, but he’ll have plenty of competition. That includes fourth-round rookie Elijah Sarratt and sixth-round rookie Ja’Kobi Lane.
Yet, as The Athletic‘s Ravens insider Jeff Zrebiec recently suggested, the Ravens’ third receiver may not even be on the team yet.
“There’s still a possibility that the Ravens’ No. 3 receiver behind Flowers and Bateman hasn’t yet joined the team. Several free-agent pass catchers, including Stefon Diggs, Keenan Allen, Deebo Samuel and DeAndre Hopkins, are still available, and general manager Eric DeCosta is always looking to bolster the roster. The Ravens have been focused on evaluating the young receivers through offseason workouts and practices. If they aren’t confident that Walker, Lane and Surratt are ready, they’ll look elsewhere.”
The Athletic on Ravens’ WR3
Multiple teams may be taking this same wait-and-see approach, trying to see if one of their younger receivers steps up before adding a more expensive veteran. Yet, as Zrebiec noted, if the Ravens don’t see progress, they won’t hesitate to add someone who’s more proven at the position of need.
While Hopkins played in 17 games last season with the Ravens, ranking third on the team in targets behind Flowers and tight end Mark Andrews, he produced just 22 receptions for 330 yards and two touchdowns. The Ravens may be hoping for more out of their No. 3 receiver in 2026.
Related: Baltimore Ravens Linked to Trade Involving Freakish Pro Bowl Talent
