2021 fourth-round pick Tylan Wallace is once again in danger of being cut. Widely projected to be a Day 2 pick during the NFL Draft, most experts across the league believed that Baltimore found a diamond in the rough when they took him with the 131st overall pick. Instead, the Oklahoma State product has proved the haters right, recording just seven receptions for 67 yards through three seasons, although he has made something of a name for himself on special teams. Playing second fiddle to Devin Duvernay, Wallace was responsible for one of the most exciting moments of the 2023 season.
This Tylan Wallace TD return was one of the greatest plays of the 2023 season. pic.twitter.com/Q9ZbCLUYZA
— 𝗥𝗮𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘀 𝗡𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝙇𝙄𝙑𝙀 (@LIVERavenNation) February 3, 2024
With Odell Beckham and Devin Duvernay now elsewhere, some believed Wallace could finish his rookie contract in Baltimore. Unfortunately, Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic believes the Ravens could still cut Tylan Wallace if he doesn’t perform well in the offseason. If that happens, the Chargers and Saints could bring him in to both bolster their wide receiver depth charts and compete for a special teams role.
Ravens Could Cut Tylan Wallace – Chargers, Saints Could Come Knocking
If cut, the Chargers could bring in Tylan Wallace in hopes of catching lightning in a bottle. Los Angeles has the worst wide receiver room in the league by a comfortable margin, with only second-round pick Ladd McConkey offering any reasonable upside. Quentin Johnston had a rookie season to forget, Joshua Palmer and DJ Chark are nothing more than unremarkable journeymen, and Cornelius Johnson and Brenden Rice were seventh-round picks for a reason.
Justin Herbert is incredible, but nobody can singlehandedly power an offense without some help. Chances are, Tylan Wallace won’t be anything more than emergency depth, but it’s worth throwing a dart on the cut candidate. If nothing else, Wallace’s abilities as a returner could prove valuable with the new kickoff return rules. Derius Davis performed well as a rookie returner, but teams could easily justify carrying two returners with the modified rules.
Saints Look For Depth
Derek Carr is as good as the pieces around him, and that’s bad news for the 2024 version of the New Orleans Saints. The team has one of the worst offensive lines in the game and, while the wide receiver duo of Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed is talented, they could use some more depth. A.T. Perry showed promise as a rookie, but the former sixth-round pick might not make the Year 2 leap. Even if he does, the Saints could still go after Tylan Wallace if the Ravens cut him.
Last year, New Orleans utilized Shaheed as their primary returner. While the former undrafted free agent played well in that role, the Saints probably don’t want him taking any additional punishment. This offense already lacks depth, and losing Shaheed to a special teams injury could sink the entire unit. Tylan Wallace can make the roster cut as a returner and help ensure this team stays as healthy as possible while chasing their first playoff appearance since Drew Brees called it a career.
Main Photo: Jessica Rapfogel – USA Today Sports
