Baltimore Ravens: Zay Flowers is icing on the cake for Day 1 of 2023 NFL Draft

Round 1 of the 2023 NFL Draft got a bit crazy early on, with a couple of trades and some questionable picks. Fortunately, that left talent on the board for the Baltimore Ravens at pick no. 22 overall.

With that selection, the Ravens went with an offensive weapon, snatching up Boston College wide receiver Zay Flowers. The run on receivers didn't start until Jaxon Smith-Njigba went at no. 20, with Quentin Johnston following right behind at no. 21.

Baltimore saw the trend and decided they could not pass on Flowers, which was a great decision. Flowers fits exactly what the Ravens needed in this draft: a playmaker.

For a team whose wide receivers combined to be arguably the worst receiving room in football last year, Baltimore has certainly taken a turn for the better. A couple of weeks ago, the team signed veteran Odell Beckham Jr. to a 1-year deal. Now, they get another big-time playmaker in the rookie, Flowers.

Zay Flowers is icing on the cake for the Baltimore Ravens and Lamar Jackson, on the day a contract extension was reached

A few hours before the draft kicked off, the Ravens and Lamar Jackson came to an agreement on a brand-new, 5-year contract extension, making the former MVP the highest-paid player in the league.

After weeks upond weeks of stress, negotiations, rumors and reports, it all came to an end. Jackson's deal got done, and now he has a shiny new weapon in Flowers to top things off.

The perfect style of wide receiver for Jackson and the Ravens, Flowers is a target who can get open with the best of them. He's fast, twitchy and can get down field in a hurry. He uses tremendous footwork to throw defensive backs for a loop, and before they know it, he's got the ball in his hands and is off to the races.

With 4.42 speed, Flowers is fast enough, but he's a lot faster on the field, in pads. His Combine time doesn't even come close to showing what he can do in a game. This is a receiver who will light up secondaries, and do it in a hurry, when given the opportunity.

One of the best qualities in Flowers is his awareness to get back to his quarterback when plays break down. He's very aware of the play, where his quarterback is headed and how to get himself into a space where he's visible to his quarterback.

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Lastly, Flowers has the fun-loving, energetic and downright contagious personality you want in a locker room. He'll use that humble, positive attitude to learn from a guy like Beckham all while benefiting from playing with one of the league's most exciting players in all of football, in Jackson.

The Ravens snagged their picture-perfect first round target in Flowers, and to do it on such a great day for the organization just feels right. On to Day 2, Ravens Flock.