Recently, the Baltimore Ravens have turned over a new leaf in their wide receiver history. Zay Flowers has grown into one of the better weapons in the NFL, and with two straight Pro Bowl selections, he’s already entering conversations as the best wideout in Ravens history.
Flowers is a true nuisance. He’s shifty as heck, which makes him a great route runner and a pest to bring down in the open field. He also has the speed to take the top off the defense. For Baltimore, though, they may soon learn how it feels to go up against a player like Flowers.
According to new Cleveland Browns head coach Todd Monken, his team might have its own Zay Flowers. Monken sees a lot of Flowers in first-round rookie KC Concepcion. Based on his comments in an interview on The Fresh Take, the Ravens could have trouble guarding Concepcion.
"“What you saw from KC Concepcion in college was a lot of what we saw from Zay Flowers. He’s got a long way to go to get to Zay because Zay is an elite football player, but they’re similar in terms of what they bring to practice, their smile, their charisma, their juice, that I loved about Zay, and I love about KC.”"Todd Monken
Cleveland Browns' rookie could give Baltimore Ravens Zay Flowers-like problems
When people compare rookies to multi-time Pro Bowlers, it’s usually the best-case scenario for their NFL development. It’s anything but a guarantee that KC Concepcion reaches the heights that Zay Flowers has reached at this point in his young career. However, it’s also Todd Monken giving Concepcion that praise. After coaching Flowers for three years, it’s worth listening, and if you’re a Ravens fan, worrying about the hype that Monken is placing on Concepcion.
Concepcion was one of the top targets in the 2026 NFL Draft. He emerged as a big-time problem at Texas A&M last year. He finished with 61 receptions, 919 yards, and nine touchdowns, earning All-American honors along the way. The 21-year-old was one of the craftiest route runners at the collegiate level, consistently putting opposing cornerbacks in no man's land and opening up easy passing lanes for his quarterbacks. He also has the explosive footwork and vision necessary to do damage after the catch.
Of course, Concepcion has a lot of developing to do before he even cracks the surface of becoming a player like Flowers, and Monken acknowledged that. His main issue is his worrisome drop percentage. In 2024, it sat at 9.1%, and while he improved in 2025, it remained far too high at 6.9%. But it's clear he’s making progress in that regard.
Concepcion could be an especially big issue when going up against Baltimore’s defense.
The Ravens' secondary saw endless struggles in 2025. They gave up 247.9 passing yards per game (tied for second-worst in the NFL), so guarding a player like Concepcion could unravel into a horror show. The starting corners remain the same, and although Jesse Minter is here to fix everything that went wrong last season, it’s up to the players to right their wrongs.
Concepcion, regardless of being a rookie, could present a pretty tough task for the likes of Nate Wiggins, Marlon Humphrey, and Chidobe Awuzie. The trio gets to work against Zay Flowers every day at practice, so maybe they can keep the rookie at bay. Still, they must step up in 2026 because it sounds like Concepcion is going to be a major challenge.
Add us as a preferred source on Google