The 2024 NFL Draft featured an outstanding class of wide receivers, with ten WRs being selected within the first 37 picks and three in the top 10.
With so much talent available, it was tough for anyone to separate from the crowd, but one NFL executive recently revealed who he had as his “sleeper” heading into the draft.
Editorial Director for the Baltimore Ravens Ryan Mink revealed that Ravens GM Eric DeCosta had Florida WR Ricky Pearsall as his sleeper, and he felt like the Ravens could select him at some point until he wound up getting taken at the end of the first round by the San Francisco 49ers.
Eric DeCosta said Ricky Pearsall was his sleeper wide receiver in the draft who he really liked. Felt maybe the Ravens could get him at some point. Ended up going first round to the 49ers.
— Ryan Mink (@ryanmink) May 8, 2024
Pearsall played two years at Florida after transferring from Arizona State and posted 65 catches for 965 yards and four touchdowns last season in Gainesville.
That production combined with an impressive showing at the NFL Combine got him selected 31st overall and landed him in an incredible situation with the Niners where he’ll have the opportunity to feast as a slot receiver next to Deebo Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk.
If DeCosta wanted him badly enough, he had every opportunity to take him, as the Ravens had the 30th pick but decided to take Clemson cornerback Nate Wiggins one spot before the Niners took Pearsall.
The Ravens didn’t take a receiver until the fourth round when they took Devontez Walker out of North Carolina.
Baltimore will be running it back at the WR position this season and going with the same guys they had last year aside from replacing Odell Beckham Jr. with Walker.
