Former Baltimore Ravens wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins believes rookie Ja'Kobi Lane could be special.
Former Baltimore Ravens wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins is excited to watch rookie pass catcher Ja’Kobi Lane.
Hopkins took to X to react to a recent video of Lane working on his route running. The former All-Pro wide receiver also offered a huge endorsement for the young pass catcher.
"He a playmaker! Ball in the air it’s his. Looking forward to see him w Lamar," Hopkins wrote.
The 34-year-old is high on the former USC Trojan, adding to the excitement that could be the wide receiver room outside of Zay Flowers.
That’s the biggest question mark for the Ravens offense, at least when it comes to the pass catchers. Who can be the true WR2 that could contribute alongside Flowers?
The Ravens may have found that in Lane and fellow rookie wide receiver Elijah Sarratt. However, Lane could have the greater upside of the two.
Lane, 21, carved out a stellar collegiate career, and he has all the tools to be an elite wide receiver in the NFL.
The Ravens rookie has the size, catch radius, and red-zone ability that give him the best chance to produce from the jump. On top of that, he possesses elite ball-tracking skills, as he stands at 6-foot-4.
While his attributes are solid, his gritty mentality and first-team attitude are what the Ravens likely drafted him for. Lane still has some areas to improve, including blocking downfield, expanding his route tree, and adding play strength to enhance his ability to beat press coverage.
Nonetheless, Hopkins is high on Lane.
The 34-year-old spent the 2025 season with the Ravens, playing in all 17 games.
In those contests, the future Hall of Famer recorded 22 receptions on 39 targets for 330 yards, two touchdowns, and had a catch percentage of 56.4 percent. Hopkins started in only three games.
He signed with the Ravens as a rotational third starter behind Flowers and Rashod Bateman.
The 2025 season is not the best to judge Hopkins and certainly not the Ravens. It was an underwhelming season due to a flurry of injuries to key players.
As things stand, Hopkins is an unrestricted free agent and has taken the patient approach to signing with a contender for his 14th NFL season. The chances of Hopkins landing back in Baltimore for the upcoming season are low, but there could also be a chance he may pair with Lane should the Ravens need a strong veteran presence.
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