The Baltimore Ravens were one of the biggest winners of the 2023 NFL Draft by signing Lamar Jackson to an extension and drafting wide receiver Zay Flowers. Early into Ravens training camp, the decisions are looking even better.
Baltimore overhauled its receiving corps this offseason. After disappointing finishes in the last two seasons with a stalled passing attack, head coach John Harbaugh and general manager Eric DeCosta decided to invest significant resources into improving at wide receiver.
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- Zay Flowers college stats: 3,056 receiving yards, 29 touchdowns, 15.3 yards per catch in 48 games
It started with small moves to add depth, signing wide receivers Nelson Agholor and Laquon Treadwell to short-term deals. Then, Baltimore provided Odell Beckham Jr. with the contract he was looking for to add a primary pass-catcher to the offense.
While Beckham Jr. and Rashod Bateman are the biggest names among the Ravens’ receivers, Flowers is the one who is generating the most buzz at training camp.
Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic wrote in-depth about Flowers’ strong impression thus far in training camp. Baltimore’s rookie offensive weapon has responded to the “O-dell” chants by standing out on the practice field and in the film room.
“It would be hard to make a better first impression than Flowers has made. In offensive meetings, he peppers coaches and teammates with questions. In the weight room, he looks for ways to do more, not less. And on the field, he’s made an instant connection with Jackson. In Wednesday’s first training camp practice, Flowers caught the first two balls Jackson threw in the full-team session. He’d go on to catch several more, and on one short reception, he froze one of the NFL’s top tacklers, Roquan Smith, with a stutter-and-go move that prompted Jackson to nickname his new receiver.”
Jeff Zrebiec on Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers
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Flowers has been so impressive that he’s even earned a nickname for his skills. Nicknamed the Joystick, Jackon explained the name is fitting because Flowers is “moving out there is so swift and making stuff happen.”
While Flowers will have to share targets with Bateman, Beckham Jr. and Mark Andrews this season, it’s a promising sign that he already has the trust of the quarterback and coaching staff. In a more explosive offense than Baltimore has seen in many years, Flowers could be one of the most productive rookies in 2023.
