The Baltimore Ravens have committed more assets to the wide receiver position in the last few weeks than they have previously during Lamar Jackson’s tenure with the team. That likely played a part in him signing a new contract with the team hours before the 2023 NFL Draft got underway despite requesting a trade from the team in March.

The signing of Odell Beckham Jr. likely appeased Jackson, as Beckham was one of the players Jackson reportedly wanted to see the team bring in. Baltimore kept bolstering their wide receiver group in the 2023 NFL Draft.

With their first-round pick, No. 22 overall, the Ravens selected Boston College wide receiver Zay Flowers. Flowers was among the best prospects at his position in the draft class and a strong argument could have been made for him to be No. 1.

He should have an immediate role in the Ravens offense given his unique skill set. He plays much bigger than the 5’9” that he is listed at and can line up all over the formation. Whether it is on the boundary, in the slot or even out of the backfield, Flowers can be a weapon with the ball in his hands.

Just how dynamic of a player is he? Sarah Ellison, a co-host of Ravens Vault with Blue Wire Pods, shared an insane statistic that proves just how explosive he is. Last season, Flowers averaged 42.9 yards after the catch per game individually. As a whole, the Ravens averaged only 32.4 yards after the catch per game.

That is a truly eye-popping differential. Granted, there is a little more space to work with collegiately given the hash marks and more free-flowing offenses, but it goes to show just how unimposing the Ravens’ passing game was in 2022.

There weren’t any players who could really make a play after the catch, which Flowers will provide in droves. He is an excellent fit for what the Ravens need as their wide receiver group now has some dynamic athletes with the Boston College product joining Beckham, Rashod Bateman and Nelson Agholor.