The NFL wide receiver market just exploded…again. Those are words that the Baltimore Ravens were hoping they wouldn’t have to hear twice in one offseason. With the Atlanta Falcons making Drake London a very rich man on Tuesday, things could get tricky for Baltimore’s upcoming negotiations with their star weapon, Zay Flowers.
Seattle Seahawks wideout Jaxon Smith-Njigba still holds the market record at the position with his four-year, $168.6 million deal, and while that resets the market for everyone, we at least know that Flowers isn’t going to get that much money. However, London might be a more comparable player, and as he gets a huge payday to the tune of $141 million over four years, there might be a blueprint out there for Flowers. An incredibly expensive blueprint.
Safe to say, general manager Eric DeCosta has his work cut out for him.
Baltimore Ravens facing a very expensive reality ahead of Zay Flowers decision
The looming contract talks with Zay Flowers are becoming a hotter topic by the day. We’re nearing the time where it might be best for him to sign a new deal, and after Drake London inked one of his own, Flowers could be knocking on that door.
Entering 2026, Flowers is a two-time Pro Bowler who has eclipsed 1,000 yards in a single season twice. Last year, he notched career highs with 86 receptions and 1,211 yards, while tying another high of six total touchdowns. Based on those achievements and numbers, he could find himself with the edge in negotiations and could get an extension that matches or even surpasses that of London’s.
Of course, there’s no rush to dive into those Flowers’ talks. He has another year left on his rookie salary, and the Ravens also exercised his fifth-year option, which is good for $27.298 million. With two years left on his deal, it’s not a major concern just yet.
However, Baltimore played that game with Tyler Linderbaum. Despite efforts to retain him, they got burned badly when he signed an enormous three-year, $81 million contract with the Las Vegas Raiders in free agency. Eric DeCosta obviously doesn’t want that to happen again. In addition to that, it’s probably not worth waiting much longer if the wide receiver market is going to continue to skyrocket as it has been.
If London got $35.25 million a year, there’s no telling how rich the position group could get. That’s no shot at London; he’s certainly a WR1. Still, that salary slots in as the third-richest pay among wide receivers on a per-year basis. He’s not the third-best wideout in the league. Others are going to be eager to jump him, or at least get somewhere close to his new contract. And if that frenzy kicks off before a Flowers extension, it could be a serious issue for Baltimore.
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