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By Rowan Fisher-Shotton
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Knowing that Lamar Jackson is entering a critical season, the Baltimore Ravens prioritized adding more weapons on the outside this offseason.
They used their 14th overall pick in the NFL 2026 Draft on All-American guard Olaivavega Ioane, giving Jackson more protection up front, then followed it up by taking USC wide receiver Ja'Kobi Lane in the third round and Indiana wideout Elijah Sarratt in the fourth.
Yet throughout training camp, it hasn't been Sarratt turning heads — or even star receiver Zay Flowers, fresh off a $140 million extension — but Lane. The former Trojan has made several contested grabs and has clearly earned the trust of Jackson, who has looked his way frequently in practice.
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On Wednesday, the 6-foot-4 rookie put together another strong practice and received high praise from new offensive coordinator Declan Doyle afterward, who compared him to former Saints All-Pro receiver Michael Thomas. "He's got this huge catch radius. He's got great hands. He's very sticky," Doyle said. "Mike Thomas had these strong hands where he could pull it down, in a way, if you threw it in the vicinity, you felt like he was going to go get it. He's a very friendly guy to throw to."
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Thomas, a 6-foot-3, 215-pound wideout, spent his entire seven-year NFL career with the Saints, working directly with Doyle, who served as an offensive assistant in New Orleans from 2019 to 2023.
Thomas hasn't played since 2023, but it's easy to forget he was once one of the best receivers in the league. He racked up 6,569 receiving yards and 36 touchdowns on 565 receptions across seven seasons, earning three Pro Bowl nods and two first-team All-Pro selections, while leading the league in receptions twice. In 2019, he led the NFL with 1,725 receiving yards, nine touchdowns, and 149 catches — all career-highs — en route to Offensive Player of the Year honors.
It's still early in camp, but the attention Lane has drawn, and the comparison to one of the best receivers of this era, amounts to serious praise. The door is open for Lane to claim the No. 2 receiver spot opposite Flowers, and if he develops into even half the player Thomas was, the Ravens could walk away with one of the biggest steals of the 2026 NFL Draft.
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