Zay Flowers immediately told Ravens which player should get paid next

Zay Flowers had barely finished celebrating his own contract extension before turning his attention toward another teammate.

The Baltimore Ravens signed Flowers to a four-year, $140 million extension with $108 million guaranteed. It is a massive commitment to the two-time Pro Bowl receiver, who led the team with 86 catches and 1,211 receiving yards last season.

Baltimore secured its top receiver through 2031. Now Flowers wants the franchise to finish the job by extending Lamar Jackson.

“I want him to be my quarterback because, to me, he’s the best in the world,” Flowers said of Jackson, according to ESPN.

Not exactly a subtle hint.

Zay Flowers knows where his success starts

Flowers has earned his new deal. His production has increased in each of his first three seasons, and he has led Baltimore in both receptions and receiving yards every year since entering the league.

He is explosive, difficult to bring down and capable of turning a short completion into six points before a defense realizes something has gone terribly wrong.

Still, Flowers understands the setup.

Jackson is the player forcing defenders to hesitate. He is the reason linebackers cannot immediately drop into coverage and safeties have to worry about what happens when a play breaks down. He creates the extra space Flowers uses so well.

Flowers also experienced the other side of that equation last season. His production dipped while Jackson was injured before surging again down the stretch. The quarterback and receiver are not merely two talented players occupying the same offense. Their games feed each other.

Baltimore cannot stop with Zay Flowers

Jackson remains under contract through the 2027 season, but his salary cap numbers give Baltimore plenty of incentive to negotiate another extension. The Ravens restructured his deal earlier this year to create nearly $40 million in cap space while reportedly continuing to pursue a longer agreement.

That makes Flowers’ public endorsement more than a teammate tossing out a compliment.

Baltimore just invested elite receiver money in keeping its passing game intact. Allowing Jackson’s contract to creep toward expiration would be a strange follow-up. It would be like buying a luxury sound system and then deciding the electricity is somebody else’s problem.

The Ravens have been through a prolonged Jackson negotiation before. It became the biggest story surrounding the franchise, produced a trade request and created months of uncertainty before the sides finally reached an agreement in 2023.

There is no reason to order the sequel.

The next deal is obvious: Lamar Jackson

Flowers is now signed through the 2031 season, giving Baltimore a cornerstone around which to build its offense. He is young, productive and still improving.

But his first request after getting paid says plenty about how he views his quarterback.

Flowers believes Jackson is the best player in the world. The Ravens do not have to go quite that far publicly.

They just need to pay him like someone they have absolutely no interest in replacing.