After being hired as the Baltimore Ravens' offensive coordinator, Declan Doyle has made it clear that he wants to make the offense more explosive. Fans are, of course, delighted by this focus, and Lamar Jackson will reap the benefits of this new look offense.
Jackson is far from the only player who will benefit from this stylistic change, though, as Zay Flowers is another clear candidate to blossom in Doyle's offense. Flowers' blend of speed and versatility makes him tailor-made for a more explosive offense.
He is coming off a career-best season where he racked up 1,211 yards, which is the most ever by a Ravens receiver. Considering that he was able to accomplish this with Jackson's injuries and play-calling that didn't maximize his skill set, it's hard not to expect Flowers to make yet another leap this year. Plus, Flowers could naturally level up entering his fourth season.
By all accounts, 2026 could be the year of Zay.
Zay Flowers is poised for an even bigger season in the Ravens' new system
Last year, Flowers was essentially the Ravens' only source of explosive plays in the passing game. He averaged an impressive 14.1 yards per reception and accounted for 36.9 percent of the Ravens' receiving yards.
Flowers' ability to both catch deep passes and break free on routine plays added some component of explosiveness to the Ravens' offense. His 138-yard two-touchdown outing against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 18 was one of the best individual performances of the season.
Still, given that the Ravens ranked dead last in passing attempts, it's clear this element of the offense needs to be leaned into more, and thankfully, Doyle's vision for an explosive offense could have them doing just that.
The Ravens will need to upgrade their wide receiver depth so as not to be overly reliant on Flowers, especially with the newfound focus on airing it out. With Rashod Bateman's down season, this need is even clearer. Furthermore, we saw Doyle utilize a variety of pass catchers with the Chicago Bears.
Nevertheless, even if they get another high-end receiver, Zay will remain a central part of the Ravens' offense -- especially with a newfound focus on explosive plays. In fact, Flowers could benefit from playing next to another high-level WR, as he won't receive as much attention from the defense.
Ultimately, last season gave everyone an exciting sample of what type of play Flowers could be, and now we're going to see the fully actualized version of him in Doyle's new offense.