Draft Analysis: Devontez Walker

April 23, 2024 /
  • Height: 6’1″
  • Weight: 193 lb.
  • College: North Carolina
  • Tape watched: Miami, Virginia, Duke, Clemson
  • NFL Comparison: DJ Chark

Pros

  • Speed

A total speed demon, Tez Walker may be the best deep threat in this class. Yes, better than Xavier Worthy. The difference between the two is the vast disparity in stride lengths that Walker owns over Worthy. Tez Walker eats up so much turf with his long strides. There may not be a play on tape that Walker wasn’t held to some capacity. Effortless speed always plays in the NFL, and Walker has plenty.

Midline

  • Hands

Despite a good contested catch rate of 58.8%, Walker looks uncomfortable finding and catching the ball in traffic. He completed a low amount of jump balls in the games I watched. He doesn’t always make catches with his hands, including situations that require it. He tracks the ball well over his shoulders, however.

  • Release

More consistency, and this would be an area of strength for Walker. He can be lazy at times, not using his size and speed to his full advantage. Walker also plays very tall through his release and overall as a receiver. Corners can use that leverage advantage and create solid contact through his chest. Walker also failed to use his hands and arms consistently.

A really nice release from Walker
  • Blocking

Walker relies too heavily on his 84th percentile arm length. When he doesn’t square his body, or matches with a stronger corner, they can easily slip his straight-arms. When he does get his body behind a block, he is very useful in the run game.

Cons

  • Route Running

Walker is a pure vertical plane receiver. He struggles to sink his hips and break horizontally across the field. He is a deadly post runner. By the time the corner flips his hips to turn and run, Walker is four steps ahead. Walker is extremely effective at climbing his stem and eventually stacking the defender on his hip. For this reason, Walker should find himself a home on Day 2.

Overview

A very impressive deep threat, Devontez Walker looks to find a home that pushed the ball vertically. He is cut from the same cloth as Marquez Valdez-Scantling. Someone that is always a constant threat to find space behind the defense, but also struggles with making routine plays otherwise. Becoming more physical will go a long way in the NFL for Walker.