This one stat confirms this Ravens star is an offensive gamechanger

Quarterback Lamar Jackson had his best season in 2024. He threw for 4,172 yards and finished with the best touchdown-to-interception ratio of his career with 41 passing touchdowns and only four picks. 

Much of that was thanks to the playmakers in the Baltimore Ravens offense. Superstar running back Derrick Henry had the most efficient of his career in his debut season with Baltimore, and the duo of Mark Andrews and Isaiah Likely continued to dominate the middle of the field.

One player who took a monster step forward was former first-round pick Zay Flowers. The second-year wideout earned a Pro Bowl nod while totaling 1,059 receiving yards. However, his production went deeper than just the noteworthy stats, as he proved to be Jackson’s go-to target and security blanket throughout the season.

Lauren Gray and Pro Football Focus calculated the highest target rates among wide receivers when their quarterbacks were under pressure in 2024. Flowers was the third-highest ranked receiver at 20%. Gray wrote:

“Flowers saw 36 targets when his quarterback was under pressure last season (eighth most), and he hauled in 15 for 264 yards and a touchdown. All of his catches moved the chains, with nearly half (seven) gaining 15 or more yards. He also finished with the second-highest deep target rate in pressure situations (38.9%).”

“Flowers has racked up 66 pressured targets in his first two seasons, logging 32 catches for 587 yards and four touchdowns. He ranks in the top 10 in targets and receiving yards across that span. He has gained 29 first downs and earned a 76.0 PFF receiving grade on those plays.”

Zay Flowers might be the most crucial receiving threat in Baltimore

Jackson and Flowers have some of the best chemistry of any quarterback-receiver duo in football. When the Ravens drafted Flowers with the 22nd pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, Jackson was in general manager Eric DeCosta’s ear, hollering for the team to draft the electrifying playmaker. The two also grew up in Florida and frequently work out there together in the offseason. Going into his third season, Flowers is ready to take another step forward.

From 2023 to 2024, the 24-year-old made a substantial jump in PFF’s grades. He went from the 30th to the 16th-best receiver per their overall grades in 2024, finishing the year at 82.1. He found a strong rhythm by the middle of the regular season, and while he ended the season with an injury, he truly found his footing in the league.

Flowers has a knack for creating separation. He is one of the nimblest receiving threats and can stop on a dime and snatch defensive backs’ ankles at any time. He is already becoming an established star and should continue his strong pace in 2025.

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