Restoring excitement and productivity to what was once a team strength, but became mediocre for the Baltimore Ravens in 2024, can be done for the bargain cost of a sixth-round pick in the 2025 NFL draft.
That’s the round Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta sent LaJohntay Wester’s name to the podium, and the wide receiver is predicted to solve a not-insignificant problem as a rookie.
Specifically, Glenn Erby of Ravens Wire believes “the Ravens addressed their most under-the-radar need in return specialist LaJohntay Wester. Baltimore was middle of the pack in punt return last season, ranking 16th with a 9.7-yard average and using four different players. Wester is a speedy returner who averaged 12.2 yards on punts in his final season at Colorado, including a 76-yard touchdown.”
Wester showed the Ravens what could be in store if he gets to return kicks in the pros when, “at the Shrine Bowl, his acceleration was clocked at 6.2 yards per second squared, making him the second-fastest on offense since the Shrine Bowl partnered with Zebra Sports. Wester has a connection to Baltimore, having played under Ravens running backs coach Willie Taggart at Florida Atlantic.”
The athletic skills, production and familiarity with the coaching staff are all there for Wester to defy his draft status and prove a steal for a Ravens return game in a state of transition.
Ravens Need to Revive Franchise Staple
Explosive returners had been a franchise staple for the Ravens before last season. Dynamic playmakers like Super Bowl winners Jermaine Lewis and Jacoby Jones, along with All-Pro Devin Duvernay, ensured Baltimore’s special teams was long feared in this area.
Things changed in 2024 once Duvernay jumped ship to the Jacksonville Jaguars in free agency. His exit left a void the Ravens simply couldn’t fill, despite the presence of Duvernay’s fellow wideout Tylan Wallace, another useful return man.
The Ravens averaged 9.7 yards returning punts and 27 running back kicks, per Pro Football Reference. No returner took any kick to the end zone for a touchdown last season.
Solving the problem won’t be easy, but explosive running back Keaton Mitchell is keen to pick up the slack on kickoffs. It’s a useful suggestion because Mitchell is a natural home-run threat whose acceleration and elusiveness seem tailor-made for returner’s duties.
If the Ravens can pair Mitchell’s dynamism with another tough-to-catch speedster, they will be well on their way to fielding a return game opponents fear again. It all hinges on Wester’s development.
LaJohntay Wester In the Right Place to Use Core Talent
Wester couldn’t have landed in a better spot to help him quickly translate his core talent to the pros. Ravens head coach John Harbaugh is one of the best special teams coaches in the game, and he’s already taken a keen interest in Wester’s progress.
Harbaugh was observed giving Wester tips on field vision and how to “beat the ball to the spot” during rookie minicamp.
Those are useful pointers from a coach who has seen his share of gifted returners. Wester joining an elite group from the Ravens’ past will depend a lot on the 23-year-old’s commitment to refining his innate ability by deepening his knowledge of the craft.
Fortunately, the early signs are positive Wester is putting in the work. He was seizing extra time after practice to improve his hands, per Baltimore Banner Sports.
Rookie WR LaJohntay Wester working on the JUGS machine after practice
This is what Harbaugh and the Ravens want to see from a potential game-breaker who will prove a true draft steal if he elevates a middling return game in his debut season.
