When you’re the smallest guy in the room, you better be the toughest. That’s exactly the attitude LaJohntay Wester is bringing to Baltimore — and ESPN’s Todd McShay says NFL fans, especially Colorado Buffaloes faithful, shouldn’t underestimate what he can become.
Wester, a sixth-round pick (No. 203 overall) by the Ravens, stands just 5’10” and 163 pounds. But McShay isn’t concerned. In fact, while speaking on his own podcast, The McShay Show, he let it be known he’s bullish on Wester’s NFL chances. “He’s a tough little nugget, man,” McShay said. “This guy’s going to get in there with the Ravens receiver room… and he’s going to look around and be like, ‘Hey, I can play on this team.’”
Todd McShay on #Ravens rookie LaJohntay Wester:
— Bobby Trosset (@bobbybaltim0re) May 12, 2025
"He's gonna get in there with the Ravens' receiver room. ... Wester's gonna look around and be like 'hey, I can play on this team...I can f**king play on this team." I'm telling you he can. He's gonna get his shot."
via… pic.twitter.com/oje3tRP2fM
Ravens fans may not know him yet, but Colorado certainly does. After transferring from Florida Atlantic — where he posted 108 receptions in 2023 (second-most in the FBS) — Wester quickly became one of Coach Prime’s most trusted weapons. In his lone season in Boulder, Wester logged 74 receptions for 931 yards and 10 touchdowns, averaging nearly 13 yards per catch.
While much of the national spotlight stayed on Travis Hunter and Shedeur Sanders, McShay saw something different. “If they were double teaming or rolling coverage to Travis Hunter, [Wester] showed up,” he said. “He’s been doing it for a while. Just nobody knew about it.”
Baltimore’s wide receiver room is crowded — but not impenetrable. Zay Flowers is locked in. Rashod Bateman has battled injuries. DeAndre Hopkins is 32 and nearing the end of his career. The fourth-leading wideout in receptions last year? Tylen Wallace — with just 10 catches.
McShay made it clear: there’s a role Wester can claim. He’s quicker than fast, slippery in space, and built for big moments in small windows. And in an offense designed for creative mismatches, he might be exactly what Lamar Jackson didn’t know he needed.
Buffs fans watched Wester shine when it mattered most. Now, with the Ravens looking for production beyond their stars, it might be time for the rest of the league to finally notice.
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