For the first time in a long time, the Baltimore Ravens upgraded the weapons in their passing game. It very likely played a big part in being able to sign Lamar Jackson to a long-term deal as it showed they were committed to making life easier for him, adding some dynamic weapons to elevate the offense.
In free agency the Ravens signed Nelson Agholor early on and ended up winning the Odell Beckham Jr. sweepstakes as well. Those three, along with 2021 first-round pick Rashod Bateman, gave the team a nice core at the wide receiver spot. That core got even better during the 2023 NFL Draft.
With the No. 22 pick in the draft, Baltimore selected Boston College wide receiver, Zay Flowers. There were some analysts that believed Flowers was the best wide receiver in this year’s draft class despite his lack of size; he stands only 5’10” and weighs 172 pounds. But, he more than makes up for it with his toughness and athleticism.
During his time at Boston College, Flowers was much more than just a dynamic receiver. His skill set also translated well to special teams where he excelled in open space as a return man. It is something that head coach John Harbaugh said is certainly on the table during his rookie season.
No matter what the Ravens ask of him, Flowers is confident that he will succeed and get the job done. The new scheme that the team is deploying offensive with Todd Moken taking over for Greg Roman is one Flowers believes he fits into perfectly and can fill any role asked of him.
“I feel like I’m a complete receiver. I can do it all,” Flowers said, via the team’s website. “You name it, I’ll be able to do it. I honestly don’t have a preference, because I feel like I can run every route on the outside, and I can run every route on the inside.”
That versatility will help Flowers not only get on the field early and often but find success. He even has experience lining up in the backfield as he recorded 57 rushes in his collegiate career as well.
The Ravens added a dynamic player to their offense, something they certainly needed more of. What was a weakness for years in Baltimore has now become a strength as Jackson has a plethora of weapons to get the ball to in the passing game.
