One of the things the Baltimore Ravens — every NFL team — needs is a dynamic piece to their special teams. Could be a game-changing punter or kicker. Could be a kamikaze special teamer who makes every tackle.
In the Ravens case, they had the other option — a field-flipper in wide receiver Devin Duvernay, who earned 2 Pro Bowl selections and was an NFL All-Pro return specialist during his time in Baltimore.
Now, Duvernay is headed west after signing a free agent contract with the Arizona Cardinals after 1 season with the Chicago Bears.
“Sources: Former Bears All-Pro WR/returner Devin Duvernay is signing with the Cardinals on a 1-year, $2.5M deal,” NFL insider Jordan Schultz wrote on his official X account. “Aside from being an option at receiver, Duvernay is a key weapon for his field-position impact as a returner.”
Duvernay played the 1st 4 season of his career with the Ravens from 2020 to 2023 and spent 2024 with the Jacksonville Jaguars. He has approximately $15.3 million in career earnings through the end of the 2025 season.
Fans React to Cards Picking Up Devin Duvernay
From how fans reacted to the Cardinals signing Duvernay, he’s still a player able to spark the imagination with what he might be able to do.
“Sneaky good pickup,” Tamil Pulse wrote on its official X account. “Devin Duvernay doesn’t just add depth at WR — his return game can flip field position instantly for the Arizona Cardinals. Special teams weapon.”
“That dude single handedly won them a game and (the Bears) let him walk for 2 mil??” Packers fan Matthew S. wrote on X.
“If Duvernay flips field position every game, could this end up being one of the sneakiest signings of the entire offseason?” Be Wise Bro wrote on their official X account. “This is the kind of signing people ignore in March and then wonder in November how the Cardinals suddenly keep winning the field position battle.”
Breakout Season at UT Led to High Draft Pick
Duvernay. 5-foot-11 and 200 pounds, had a breakout season in his final year at the University of Texas with 106 receptions for 1,398 yards and 10 total touchdowns.
Combined with his 4.39-second 40-yard dash at the NFL scouting combine, Duvernay upped his draft stock and was taken by the Ravens in the 3rd round (No. 92 overall) of the 2020 NFL draft.
“Straight-line speedster with a fireplug build who needs to close the ability gap between when the ball is in his hands and when it’s not,” NFL draft analyst Lance Zierlein wrote in 2020. “Duvernay is a challenging study because he carries long speed but he’s not a ball winner. He’s a slot receiver with tight hips and below-average routes but has outstanding hands and uses power to add yards after catch. The pieces don’t quite fit together, but great hands, YAC and speed are traits teams might look to mold. He’s not a classic developmental prospect but could become one if a team has a plan for him and can improve his routes.”
Duvernay had 1,360 all-purpose yards in 2021 on the way to earn NFL All-Pro and Pro Bowl honors for the 1st time, then followed that with another 1,064 all-purpose yards in 2022.
He signed a 2-year, $8.5 million free-agent contract with the Jaguars in 2024 but was released after 1 season. Duvernay bounced back with 1,326 all-purpose yards with the Bears in 2025.
Former Ravens All-Pro Lands With New Team in NFC West