Todd McShay sparks major buzz regarding Baltimore Ravens rookie
When you're the smallest guy in the room, you better be the toughest. That's exactly the attitude LaJohntay Wester is bringing to Baltimore — and ESPN's Todd McShay says NFL fans, especially Colorado Buffaloes faithful, shouldn't underestimate what he can become.
Wester, a sixth-round pick (No. 203 overall) by the Ravens, stands just 5'10' and 163 pounds. But McShay isn't concerned. In fact, while speaking on his own podcast, The McShay Show, he let it be known he's bullish on Wester's NFL chances. 'He's a tough little nugget, man,' McShay said. 'This guy's going to get in there with the Ravens receiver room… and he's going to look around and be like, 'Hey, I can play on this team.''
Ravens fans may not know him yet, but Colorado certainly does. After transferring from Florida Atlantic — where he posted 108 receptions in 2023 (second-most in the FBS) — Wester quickly became one of Coach Prime's most trusted weapons. In his lone season in Boulder, Wester logged 74 receptions for 931 yards and 10 touchdowns, averaging nearly 13 yards per catch.
Advertisement
While much of the national spotlight stayed on Travis Hunter and Shedeur Sanders, McShay saw something different. 'If they were double teaming or rolling coverage to Travis Hunter, [Wester] showed up,' he said. 'He's been doing it for a while. Just nobody knew about it.'
Baltimore's wide receiver room is crowded — but not impenetrable. Zay Flowers is locked in. Rashod Bateman has battled injuries. DeAndre Hopkins is 32 and nearing the end of his career. The fourth-leading wideout in receptions last year? Tylen Wallace — with just 10 catches.
Colorado Buffalos wide receiver LaJohntay Wester (10) against the Arizona Wildcats at Arizona Stadium.© Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
McShay made it clear: there's a role Wester can claim. He's quicker than fast, slippery in space, and built for big moments in small windows. And in an offense designed for creative mismatches, he might be exactly what Lamar Jackson didn't know he needed.
Advertisement
Buffs fans watched Wester shine when it mattered most. Now, with the Ravens looking for production beyond their stars, it might be time for the rest of the league to finally notice.
Related: Shedeur Sanders' shows true colors at Browns minicamp
Related: Real reason Shilo Sanders signed with Tampa Bay Buccaneers revealed
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Newsweek
23 minutes ago
- Newsweek
MLB Could Limit Playoff Viewers With Apple TV+ Deal: Report
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Major League Baseball is enjoying strong growth this year, though a major aspect of the near future is in doubt. After ESPN announced it would be ending its partnership with MLB three years early, questions about how commissioner Rob Manfred would make up that revenue going forward have risen. "Major League Baseball is off to its best start in years," according to Lucas Shaw and Hannah Miller of Bloomberg, who reported that ESPN, TBS and Fox are all enjoying double-digit viewership lifts this year, while game attendance hit a seven-year high in 2024. "And yet, the league is scrambling to find a buyer for a major TV package that includes 30 regular season games, the Home Run Derby, the Wild Card playoff round and up to 10 spring training games." Without ESPN, MLB is left to scramble for a new partner to broadcast some of its most popular events, particularly the wild card playoff round. And it might have found that new partner in a broadcaster whose reach is not nearly as wide as ESPN's. NEW YORK, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 11: Rob Manfred, Commissioner, Major League Baseball speaks onstage during the Growing the Game panel, at the Fortune Global Forum on November 11, 2024 in New York City. (Photo... NEW YORK, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 11: Rob Manfred, Commissioner, Major League Baseball speaks onstage during the Growing the Game panel, at the Fortune Global Forum on November 11, 2024 in New York City. (Photo byfor Fortune Media) More Countess/Getty "Major League Baseball is close to announcing a new TV deal for the package that ESPN opted out of from 2026-2028, and a source indicates that Apple TV+ is currently the highest bidder," per Boston Red Sox reporter Sean McAdam of MassLive. "Baseball is, like most sports, out to make a deal for the most revenue possible, but if MLB puts an entire round of its postseason on a streaming service with just 45 million subscribers, it deserves all the grief it's going to catch." MLB and Apple TV+ recently partnered on a "Friday Night Baseball" package that gives the streamer exclusive rights to high-profile matchups each week. Those broadcasts can frustrate fans of the involved teams as they require a subscription to watch. But as Manfred seeks a profitable replacement for ESPN, he seems likely to move the package to whichever partner makes the highest offer. Soon, that could mean some of baseball fans' favorite moments will require a new subscription. More MLB: Phillies 'Bench Bat' Becomes One of Team's Best Pitchers Amid Downward Skid
USA Today
28 minutes ago
- USA Today
Saints should reunite former Pro Bowl corner with one of his favorite coaches
Saints should reunite former Pro Bowl corner with one of his favorite coaches Ramsey-Staley reunion could solve Saints' cornerback concerns The cornerback position remains one of the biggest question marks for the New Orleans Saints heading into the 2025 season. Following the trade of Pro Bowler Marshon Lattimore to Washington and the departure of Paulson Adebo in free agency, the team enters camp without a clear-cut starter on the outside. So who are the options? The Saints have made significant investments in the position, selecting Alontae Taylor and Kool-Aid McKinstry in the early second round in recent drafts. While both players bring pedigree and upside, they also come with uncertainty — whether due to inconsistent play (Taylor) or limited NFL reps (McKinstry). The team also brought back Isaac Yiadom, who spent last season with the 49ers, but ideally, the Saints are looking for more than just depth or insurance. They need a reliable, starting-caliber presence on the boundary. One name that continues to surface in trade discussions is Jalen Ramsey of the Miami Dolphins. Ramsey has reportedly been seeking a move, and both sides appear open to a fresh start. For New Orleans, the fit makes a lot of sense — particularly given Ramsey's past success under new Saints defensive coordinator Brandon Staley. The two were instrumental in the Los Angeles Rams' No. 1 ranked defense in 2020, with Ramsey earning his second All-Pro nod and fourth Pro Bowl selection under Staley's leadership. That season would also serve as the launching pad for Staley's head coaching opportunity with the Chargers. Ramsey has made no secret of his respect for Staley, calling him 'the best defensive coordinator' he's played for. When Staley was announced as the Saints' new DC, Ramsey even reacted on social media with a supportive "My guy" — adding some fuel to the speculation. Even entering his ninth NFL season, Ramsey has shown little sign of decline. According to Pro Football Focus, he graded as the 16th-best cornerback in the league last year (76.9 overall), out of 222 qualifying players. His physicality, experience, and elite instincts would bring immediate stability to a Saints secondary that's currently filled with more 'what-ifs' than answers. The Saints have already explored potential additions with ties to Staley — most notably bringing in Asante Samuel Jr. for a visit last month. However, concerns over Samuel's health may complicate the possibility of a reunion. As it stands, the Saints have a young and promising, but largely unproven, group at cornerback. If New Orleans wants to solidify the position and return to being a stifling defense, making a move for Jalen Ramsey would go a long way to achieving that. With familiarity and a clear need at that spot, this is a move that makes too much sense to ignore.
CBS News
28 minutes ago
- CBS News
Packers will release veteran cornerback Jaire Alexander, AP source says
The Green Bay Packers are planning to release veteran cornerback Jaire Alexander, a person familiar with the situation told The Associated Press on Monday. The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the Packers haven't announced the move yet. NFL Network first reported it. The release would end a seven-year run with the Packers in which Alexander earned two Pro Bowl selections and intercepted 12 passes, though injuries limited his playing time in recent seasons. This move, which is expected to clear about $17 million in cap space, comes as the Packers prepare to open their mandatory minicamp this week. Alexander's future with the Packers had been the subject of much speculation throughout the offseason because of his hefty contract and recent injury history. Alexander had two years remaining on the four-year, $84 million contract extension he signed in May 2022. The 28-year-old Alexander has spent his entire career with the Packers, who selected him out of Louisville with the 18th overall pick in the 2018 draft. Alexander made Pro Bowls in 2020 and 2022, but he has played in only 34 of the Packers' 68 regular-season games over the last four years. Alexander missed two early-season games last year with injuries to his quadriceps and groin. He then missed a Nov. 3 loss to Detroit with a knee injury, returned to play 10 snaps in the Packers' next game against Chicago and then was out for the rest of the season. His unavailability for much of the last few seasons has the Packers believing they can move forward without the player who had remained their best cornerback when healthy. Green Bay's cornerback room also has lost 2021 first-round pick Eric Stokes, who had his own injury issues with the Packers before signing with the Las Vegas Raiders in March. The Packers return Keisean Nixon, a two-time All-Pro kickoff returner who has become more of a factor on defense the last couple of seasons while Alexander has struggled with injuries. Carrington Valentine, a 2023 seventh-round pick, has started 19 games over the last two seasons. The Packers also added former Raiders cornerback Nate Hobbs in free agency and drafted Micah Robinson out of Tulane in the seventh round. Alexander was so effective early in his career that the Packers signed him to that big contract with a $30 million signing bonus even after a shoulder injury had limited him to four regular-season games in 2021. Alexander had returned for the Packers' NFC divisional playoff loss to San Francisco during that 2021 season. But the injuries kept coming. He started 16 games and had a career-high five interceptions in 2022 but played just seven regular-season games each of the last two years. Alexander has remained very effective in pass coverage when available. The games he missed were because of injury with one exception. Alexander got suspended for a late-season game in 2023 because of conduct detrimental to the team after he appointed himself captain and participated in the coin toss for a Christmas Eve win at Carolina, his hometown. Before his injuries, Alexander tried to stoke the flames of a rivalry with Minnesota Vikings superstar Justin Jefferson. When Jefferson had 184 yards and two touchdowns against the Packers in Kevin O'Connell's first game as head coach, Alexander called the wide receiver's performance a fluke. In a later game, Alexander did the griddy — Jefferson's signature dance — after an incomplete pass. Jefferson fired some shots of his own, saying "nobody is really worried" about Alexander, noting that the Packers often gave Alexander safety help over the top to cover him.
