The Ravens lost both Marquise Brown and Sammy Watkins this offseason, the team’s most- and third-most productive wide receivers in 2021. And yet, Baltimore did not lose its leading receiver.
That distinction goes to tight end Mark Andrews, who led the team in receptions (107), yards (1,316) and touchdowns (nine) last year. Andrews’ 12.7 yards per reception were second on the team behind only Watkins’ 14.6.
For what it’s worth, it does not seem as if the Ravens prioritized the position in the offseason. They made no moves in free agency and used just three of 11 NFL Draft picks on offensive skill players (tight ends Charlie Kolar and Isaiah Likely, and running back Tyler Badie). The team added five receivers as undrafted free agents.
The question facing the Ravens in 2022, then, is what the receiving corps will look like knowing that:
- Andrews has a history as Lamar Jackson’s primary receiver;
- Jackson is one of the best dual-threat quarterbacks in the league;
- The team likely will focus on the run game, starting with J.K. Dobbins;
- And the receiving corps is absent Brown and Watkins.
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Based on experience, Rashod Bateman stands to be the new WR1. But he is only in his second season; Devin Duvernay and James Proche both entered the league a year before him. The likely fourth receiver is second-year pro Tylan Wallace.
The Ravens’ receivers in 2022 stand to be a mix of youth and experience. The group at least has Andrews to take pressure off, and an MVP-caliber quarterback to get them the ball.
Here’s a breakdown of the Ravens’ 2022 wide receiver depth chart, from Bateman to Wallace:
Ravens WR depth chart
1. Rashod Bateman
The 2022 season is Bateman’s time to shine. Brown and Watkins are gone, leaving the second-year receiver as the position group’s returning leader in targets (68) and receptions (47). Consider also that Bateman missed the first five games of his rookie season in 2021 with a nagging groin injury.
Even with that injury, Bateman was third on the team behind Andrews and Brown in targets, receptions and yards (515). He had only the one touchdown in 2021, though it stands to reason he will have more of those as Jackson’s primary wide receiver target.
That said, look for Andrews to command most of the red-zone targets, and for Jackson to run in more than a few scores.
2. Devin Duvernay
Duvernay has breakout potential after earning first-team All-Pro honors last season as a specialist (1,063 combined return yards). He can make moves in space, though that didn’t necessarily show up on the stat sheet as a receiver; he hauled in 33 receptions for 272 yards and two scores.
Ravens coach John Harbaugh is looking for ways to get Duvernay more involved in the offense, including handoffs in the backfield and on jet sweeps.
“It’s something he’s done his whole career (and) in college, too,” Harbaugh said (via the Ravens). “He’s going to be a big part of that. I don’t know if he’ll be in the backfield as a running back, per se; I think (it’ll) be more as a jet sweep guy, a mover guy. But that’s part of our offense. Running backs run those plays, too, so he’s going to definitely be doing that.”
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3. James Proche II
Proche, a sixth-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, stands to improve his production after moving up the depth chart. The 5-9, 193-pounder should post career highs in multiple categories after catching just 16 passes on 20 targets for 202 yards last season.
Proche has made the most of limited playing time in his first two seasons; now, he should be called on more in 2022, especially after ending his season with a seven-catch, 76-yard performance against the Bengals in Week 15. He and several other receivers have reportedly been sharp in camp, with Proche beating cornerback Kevon Seymour for a long touchdown.
4. Tylan Wallace
Wallace, like Proche, is a former college standout who hasn’t produced like he would have hoped in the NFL. He also comes in with the least production among Baltimore’s returning receivers, with just two catches on six targets for 23 yards. Those are all team lows among receivers even he is listed as having played in all 17 games in 2021.
Wallace has reportedly had a good camp as well. It’s up to him to make the most of his opportunity and break into the rotation.
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