This series was created a number of years ago in response to questions about why certain well-known prospects went unselected in NFL drafts. For these articles, I reach out to sources with NFL teams to find out why their organizations passed on drafting a given player, and/or, what were the reasons for other teams to pass on that prospect. The positive response to “Why Undrafted” and questions from readers about why prospects were drafted lower than the media expectations led us to create the parallel series “Why the Slide?”
Both series are back this year. Feel free to email me requests for Why the Slide? and Why Undrafted? at [email protected]. I can’t promise to get to all of them, but I will do my best and definitely will respond to the email.
Over the past three seasons, Wallace was one of the steadiest and most dangerous wide receivers in college football. He first broke out in 2018, notching 86 receptions for 1,491 yards and 12 touchdowns. As a junior in 2019, Wallace caught 53 balls for 903 yards and eight touchdowns before a season-ending ACL tear cut short what was on pace to be a prolific year. Wallace decided to return to Oklahoma State for 2020, and he played well as a senior, snatching 59 passes for 922 yards and six touchdowns. Wallace (5-11, 194) looked like a safe pick to turn into a good NFL starter, and there were some in the media who projected him to be worthy of a late first-round pick. That left some were surprised when he slipped to the fourth round of the 2021 NFL Draft.
Team sources indicated Wallace fell to the fourth round over medical concerns. Some teams’ medical staffs had flunked him medically.
The Baltimore Ravens ended Wallace slide in the fourth round, and that was a superb landing spot for him. The wide receiver position has been a huge weakness for Baltimore over the past few seasons, so Wallace could compete for playing time immediately. Marquise Brown is set as one starter, and first-round pick Rashod Bateman should start across from Brown quickly, but the Ravens needs receivers to go with them. Sammy Watkins is an oft-injured journeyman, while other recent draft picks like Miles Boykin, Devin Duvernay and James Proche II have yet to break out as starting-caliber players. If Wallace plays well, he could be the third receiver to go with Brown and Bateman. The Ravens were an excellent landing spot for Wallace, and he should have every opportunity to work his way into being a starter for them.
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