Coach John Harbaugh said last month that the Ravens would draft a wide receiver. On Thursday night, they followed through.
With the 22nd overall pick, Baltimore selected Boston College wide receiver Zay Flowers.
Though the Ravens had already bolstered their receiving corps this offseason with the free agent additions of two-time All-Pro Odell Beckham Jr. and veteran Nelson Agholor, it’s clear that general manager Eric DeCosta felt the need to continue to strengthen one of the weakest positions on the roster.
It also gives a new weapon to star quarterback Lamar Jackson, who earlier Thursday agreed to a five-year deal worth a reported $260 million, making him the highest-paid player in the NFL in terms of annual average salary.
What Flowers lacks in size — he’s 5 feet 9 and 182 pounds — he more than makes up for in elusiveness, speed and precision route running. He ran the 40-yard dash in 4.42 seconds at the NFL scouting combine had a 58.3% contested catch rate last season while racking up over 500 yards after the catch, according to Pro Football Focus.
In 2022, Flowers had 78 catches for 1,077 yards and 12 touchdowns. He also had five or more receptions on targets 20-plus yards downfield in all four of his college seasons, including 12 in 2022.
“He would seemingly be the best fit to pair with Rashod Bateman’s style of play given his deep speed and ability to create yards post-catch,” ESPN draft analyst Matt Miller said before the draft.
Flowers, who grew up in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, one town over from where Jackson is from, could form a dynamic pairing with the quarterback, especially given the Ravens’ struggles at the position. Last season, Baltimore’s receiving corps ranked last in the NFL in yards.
“Playing with Lamar, that would be a South Florida connection — two dynamic players going out there to make plays every game,” Flowers said at the combine.
He said he also idolized former Ravens wide receiver Steve Smith Sr., who played bigger than his size.
“Steve Smith, he was just a dog,” Flowers said. “He’d go up and get the ball against anyone. He’d put his body on the line.”
If Flowers can produce anywhere near the career of Smith — a two-time first-team All-Pro and five-time Pro Bowl selection who led the NFL in catches, yards and touchdowns in 2005 — they’ll be more than happy with the selection.
This story will be updated.
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