When the Baltimore Ravens selected wide receiver Zay Flowers out of Boston College with the 22nd pick in the 2023 NFL draft, they were hoping for a vertical threat who could dominate in the open field. They got that and then some.
Flowers had an uber-productive rookie season, setting franchise records along the way. Flowers' 858 receiving lead Ravens rookie receivers all-time.
Last season's efforts were commendable. This season's efforts are intentional.
"Zay Flowers is a different kind of animal. He's hungry going into Year 2.”
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) August 30, 2024
With one season under his belt, Zay’s main goal is intentional growth.
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The 23-year-old receiver came alive in the second half of last season. By the AFC Championship game, he was playing his best football. Expect him to pick up right where he left off when the Ravens take on the Chiefs in Week 1. The team believes in him, but more importantly, he believes in himself. Flowers will be a menace this season.
3 bold predictions for wide receiver Zay Flowers
Zay Flowers sets Ravens' single-season reception record
Mark Andrews currently holds the single-season reception record. Back in 2021, Andrews caught 107 passes on 153 targets. Not only did that number lead the team, it also was a top-five mark across the NFL.
Flowers caught 77 passes last season on 108 targets. While it's fair to assume Andrews' targets will eat into Flowers', you know what happens when you assume... Since Andrews' 153 targets in 2021, his targets have declined year-over-year since. Flowers was clearly a high-priority option for Lamar Jackson last year and with a relatively barren wide receiver room, expect Flowers to feast on his opportunity.
...he also sets the single-season record for receiving yards
What does the all-time regular season receptions record signify without the accompanying yards? Andrews did exactly that in 2021 when he amassed 1,361 receiving yards off his 107 receptions. Why can't Flowers do the same? He can and he will.
Flowers is shifty and designed to operate in open space. He's a blur when he's out there on the field. His 11.1 yards per reception last season indicates significant room for improvement. For reference, Josh Downs, K.J. Osborne, and Kendrick Bourne operate in this tier. The Ravens should embrace his outside vertical talents and throw him deep. He's a much better outside receiver than his size would suggest.
Zay Flowers will earn NFL All-Pro honors
Needless to say, if he's setting regular-season records left and right, Flowers is going to make an appearance on the NFL's All-Pro First Team. In theory, a season with at least 108 receptions and 1,362 receiving yards would give Flowers the honors. But hold onto your theoreticals folks, because we're going bold.
This season is all about Flowers getting his flowers and blossoming into one of the league's premier receivers.