The Baltimore Ravens have used this offseason to make changes to the roster and coaching staff in an attempt to rebound after missing the playoffs in 2025. Back in April, they also decided to pick up receiver Zay Flowers' fifth-year option, keeping him under contract through the 2027 season.
After that decision, Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic expressed that he thinks both sides will agree on an extension in the next couple of months, but the longer they wait, the price will only increase, and that happened on Thursday.
ESPN's Adam Schefter reported that the Green Bay Packers and receiver Christian Watson agreed on a four-year, $110 million extension that features a $31 million signing bonus. He's now tied with Buffalo Bills WR DJ Moore as the 14th-highest-paid receiver in the NFL, at $27.5 million AAV.
And considering that Flowers has put up better numbers than Watson, he'll look to surpass that mark on his extension.
Zay Flowers price just went up after Christian Watson extension
While Watson has been in the NFL for one additional year compared to Flowers, his numbers aren't as good.
Christian Watson | Zay Flowers |
|---|---|
Targets: 227 | Targets: 342 |
Catches: 133 | Catches: 237 |
Receiving Yards: 2,264 | Receiving Yards: 3,128 |
Receiving Touchdowns: 20 | Receiving Touchdowns: 14 |
Yards Per Reception: 17.0 | Yards Per Reception: 13.2 |
Not only has Flowers put up better stats, but he's been more available, playing in 50 games, making at least 15 starts in all three seasons. Meanwhile, Watson has dealt with hamstring, chest, shoulder problems, and a torn ACL. That has forced him to miss time in each season, notching 48 career games.
That's without mentioning that Watson's career-high in a season is 620 receiving yards. As for Flowers, he's gone over 1,000 yards in two consecutive seasons, with a career-best 1,211 receiving yards in 2025. The Boston College product has become the go-to option in the passing game for Lamar Jackson.
If Watson can get that kind of money, Flowers could easily ask for $30 million annually. On June 2, the Falcons and Drake London agreed on a four-year, $141 million extension, which pays him $35.25 a year. Flowers may have used that as a launching pad for negotiations, and while yes, both sides are interested in getting a deal done, the Ravens may not want to go that high. Regardless, with Watson getting his hefty contract, Baltimore will have to top that when discussing a contract for Flowers.
His numbers are better, and considering that he's two years younger than Watson, he'll look to cash in. The longer the Ravens wait, the price will only rise. This deal may put a fire under Baltimore to get that extension done, as the price tag continues to go up. As for Flowers, these contracts bode well for him and his eventual payday.
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