Titans NFL Draft Daily (Feb. 16): What UNC Receiver Devontez Walker Could Bring to Tennessee
Former North Carolina wide receiver Devontez Walker has been a name connected with the Tennessee Titans in the 2024 NFL Draft. In a handful of mock drafts, the Tar Heels star has been projected to land with the Titans in the second round at No. 38 overall.
There's no question Tennessee needs to acquire wide receivers this offseason. Will it happen in the first round of the draft? Or will the Titans wait until the second? Maybe coach Brian Callahan will look to add pieces in free agency. With two months between now and the draft, everything is on the table.
If the Titans are looking at picking up a receiver in the second round, Walker would be a solid option.
TennesseeTitans.com's Mike Keith talked with the former Tar Heel at the Reese's Senior Bowl in early February. While Walker is confident in his abilities, he's also quite humble in his approach. He believes there are still several areas where he can improve.
"I feel like I still have a lot to work on, still got a long way to go, but I feel like I've done a pretty good job," Walker said. "I feel like I've shown scouts what they wanted to know and what they wanted to see from me."
Last season at North Carolina, Walker totaled 41 catches for 699 yards and seven touchdowns. He played in only eight of the Tar Heels' 12 regular-season games because of an NCAA transfer rule that initially made him ineligible for the 2023 campaign.
The appealing part of Walker's game is his ability to take the top off of defenses. Because of his speed, the former Tar Heel could be an immediate downfield threat for quarterback Will Levis.
"Most definitely run," Walker said when asked for his biggest strength. "I think everyone knows running and getting separation on those vertical routes — deep, intermediate routes and things like that — I feel like that's my best asset."
But Walker also didn't shy away from his shortcomings. He still believes there's plenty of room for improvement — especially when it comes to controlling that speed.
"Definitely tapping the routes, controlling my speed through the top of routes," he said about the finer points he wants to address before the draft. "Being efficient, consistently efficient at the line of scrimmage with my feet and hands."
In three seasons at Kent State (2021-22) and North Carolina (2023), Walker piled up 104 receptions for 1,744 yards and 19 touchdowns.
If the Titans do target a receiver in the second round of this year's draft, Walker is a candidate everyone in Nashville should be excited to see.
Walker is one of 321 players who will attend the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis, Ind. later this month.
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