The 2024 NFL Draft is here, making it an excellent time to highlight some of the class' best players with scouting reports. Each report will include strengths, weaknesses and background information.
Here's our report on Devontez Walker.
Devontez Walker'S 2024 NFL COMBINE RESULTS
- Height: 6'1 1/2"
- Weight: 193 lbs
- 40-Time: 4.36 seconds
- 10-Yard Split: 1.54
- Vertical: 40.5"
- Broad Jump: 11' 2"
- 3-Cone: DNP (Did Not Participate)
- Shuttle: DNP
Devontez Walker 2024 NFL DRAFT SCOUTING REPORT
STRENGTHS:
- Good-sized receiver with smooth, fluid movement. Excellent length with a gliding yet deceptive feel to stride.
- Showed speed to run by and get on top of corners. Vertical dimension which can take the top off the defense.
- What consistently stood out was the speed with which he played. He played fast, easily opening his stride.
- Excellent run after catch when he can use his accelerating speed and explosiveness to run away from defense.
WEAKNESSES:
- Needs work on details and nuances of route running. Not a refined or disciplined route runner at this point.
- Relies almost exclusively on his athletic traits, with his smooth and sudden movement. Must learn technique.
- Ran a limited route tree at North Carolina. Does not mean he is not capable of more, but did not see it on film.
- There will be questions re: catch through contact and making tough contested catches vs. good coverage.
- Did not see many snaps vs. press coverage, so that will be a question as he transitions to the next level.
NFL TRANSITION:
Walker’s game is built on speed and explosiveness, and there is no question he is a vertical dimension who can run by and get on top of corners, taking the top off the defense. Walker plays fast right off the LOS and can accelerate to high-end speed, almost instantly challenging and putting tremendous pressure on corners even when they are in off coverage.
He is one of the smoothest, most fluid wide receivers in this class, with a gliding yet sudden feel to his movement that consistently showed up on tape. Where Walker must improve to become a more complete receiver is the detail and nuance demanded to be a disciplined, higher-level route runner who can be a factor at all levels of the defense.
He is not accomplished in that, which makes him more of a one-trick pony than a multi-level receiving dimension, but the reality is speed always plays in the NFL, and it is that trait that will be in demand.
My sense is Walker will begin his NFL career as a movement Z receiver with snaps in the slot (even though he did not play many snaps in the slot at North Carolina in 2023 or at Kent State in 2022). You will want to get him off the ball with free access into his routes, so he can use his stride and speed to maximum effect.
OTHER NOTES:
Walker played one year at North Carolina after transferring from Kent State. Due to eligibility issues, Walker only played in eight games, but he put up impressive numbers: 41 catches, 699 yards and seven touchdowns.
Walker predominantly lined up on the outside in North Carolina’s offense in 2023, although there were some snaps in the slot.
A 56-yard TD vs. Miami is a great example of his vertical speed to run by and get on top of corners, even when they are aligned 10 yards off the ball.
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