The Baltimore Ravens’ biggest obstacle to overcome this offseason was working out a long-term deal with quarterback Lamar Jackson. They accomplished that, as Jackson signed the largest contract in NFL history. With him locked in long-term, it was time to focus on upgrading the roster around him.
The one position that they pursued aggressively was wide receiver. Throughout Jackson’s tenure with the team, the wide receiver position has been mostly ignored by the Ravens, as they put very little assets toward it. This offseason, they did a complete 180-degree turn.
Early in free agency, Baltimore landed Nelson Agohlor, who has been a standout for the team this offseason. Later on, they were the winners in the Odell Beckham Jr. sweepstakes, landing the former All-Pro on a one-year deal.
The cherry on top came in the 2023 NFL Draft, With their first-round pick, the Ravens selected Boston College wide receiver, Zay Flowers. Flowers was regarded by many as the best wide receiver in this year’s draft class and that hype hasn’t slowed down as we approach training camp.
He has spent the entire offseason training with Bekcham and Jackson, soaking up as much information as he can. One thing that has stood out has been his footwork, which has been on display during his workouts.
Just how high of a ceiling does Flowers possess? One NFL executive reportedly sees Stefon Diggs type of upside in his game, while another believes that Flowers could surpass the 1,000-yard receiving mark as a rookie.
For years, the Ravens’ offense has been a run-first scheme. Former offensive coordinator Greg Roman tailored the offense around the rushing ability of Jackson, leaning heavily into the ground game.
However, the Ravens replaced Roman this offseason with Todd Monken. Monken has more of a spread-out aerial attack that will focus on the passing game more. It is something that Jackson is excited about and a system that Flowers should be able to thrive in early and often in his career.
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