The Baltimore Ravens may have figured out the answer to their WR2 problem in the 4th round of the 2026 NFL draft by selecting Indiana University wide receiver Elijah Sarratt.
“The Ravens loading up on offense at WR,” The Ball Junkie wrote on its official X account on Saturday. “Jakobi Lane and Elijah Sarratt in the 3rd and 4th rounds. I was getting sick of drafting Rashod Batement in BAL stacks … so I can take shots at these guys.”
“Love the Ravens getting Elijah Sarratt at 115th overall!” Yahoo Sports NFL reporter Matt Harmon wrote on X. “He looks like the perfect candidate to go from a perimeter on-ball college receiver to a condensed Z and big slot in the NFL.”
Sarratt Starred on National Championship Squad
Sarratt, 6-foot-2 and 210 pounds, led the FBS with 15 receiving touchdowns in 2025 on the way to helping lead the Hoosiers to an undefeated season and the 1st national championship in program history.
He’s also earned a pretty incredible nickname for his ability to always find a way to get the ball.
“Big receiver whose competitiveness and elite catch-phase execution allow him to overcome his athletic limitations,” NFL draft analyst Lance Zierlein wrote. “While he’s nicknamed ‘Waffle House’ because he’s said to be ‘always open,’ Sarratt sees a high number of contested targets versus man coverage. He’s tight-hipped with below-average foot quickness and falls below the line as a separator. Once the throw goes up, however, he consistently beats corners with size, body control and catch-space strength to clean up. He’ll face press matchups that leave his catch column dry, but he’s built and wired for possession targets over the first two levels.”
Sarratt’s Path to Becoming Top NFL Draft Prospect
Sarratt took a circuitous path to becoming a top NFL prospect.
Coming out of prep football powerhouse St. Frances Academy in Baltimore, Sarratt was a zero-star recruit and starred at FCS St. Francis (Pa.) as a true freshman in 2022.
He transferred to James Madison for the 2023 season, where he earned All-Sun Belt Conference honors with 82 receptions, 1,191 yards, and 9 touchdowns in 2023.
In his 2 seasons with the Hoosiers, Sarratt had 118 receptions for 1,787 yards, and 23 touchdowns — while also becoming part of 1 of the most incredible underdog stories in sports history.
“Elijah Sarratt has emerged as a high-volume target with WR1 potential and late-game playmaking to become a difference-maker in the NFL,” Bleacher Report’s Damian Parson wrote in his pre-draft evaluation. “Sarratt’s game combines strong hands, route-running, and an infectious desire to make impactful plays when his team needs them.”
WR Rashod Bateman Has Fallen Short
It’s ecret that Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Rashod Bateman‘s days with the franchise might be numbered. Anyone who watched Bateman’s struggles in 2025 could discern as much.
The Ravens adding a wide receiver on Day 3 signals Bateman has an uphill battle — Sarratt will be given every chance to take his spot.
Bateman signed a 3-year, $36.75 million contract before the 2025 season and responded with 19 receptions for 224 yards and 2 touchdowns in 13 games.
The Ravens don’t have a voidable year in Bateman’s contract until 2028, and while he only counted $4.548 million against the salary cap in 2025, that number goes up to $6.298 million in 2026 and $10.9 million in 2027.
Ravens Draft ‘Waffle House’ National Champion WR in 4th Round