For years the Baltimore Ravens have struggled to find a young receiver to take over as their top dog. The Ravens have taken shots at finding one with first round picks starting with Travis Taylor selected 10th overall in 2000. The results have been mixed from the six total wideouts the organization has selected since moving to Baltimore in 1996.
The latest one appears to be the best of the bunch. Zay Flowers arrived in Baltimore last year after being selected 22nd overall and quickly showed he’s an impact player.
Flowers’ second season is no different. The explosive playmaker tied his career high with June catches against the Washington Commanders and set a career high with 132 receiving yards.
“Guys like Zay [Flowers were] running crossing routes and sail routes away from those guys, and they were on our guys, but [they had] enough separation [and] Lamar dotted it,” Harbaugh said. “We had a lot of first- and second-down play-action passes up. Those plays had to be made in the pass game, and Zay made them.”
Quarterback Lamar Jackson went to Flowers nine times with each target resulting in a catch. The performance thrusts Flowers to the top of the Ravens receiving unit.
“I just have to keep earning [Lamar Jackson’s] trust – catching the ball when it [needs] to be, contested catches – no matter where it’s at and just keep playing football the way I am,” Flowers said.
Finding a receiving option to compliment NFL rushing leader Derrick Henry could make the Ravens offense unstoppable. Henry will cause defenses to focus on containing the rushing attack which in turn opens up the passing game. Flowers will get a good share of single coverage allowing him to do damage.
“I just think it’s great,” Henry said.” You have so many guys that can make plays. A lot of guys are getting chances to get the ball and being able to showcase their talents, and that’s what you want as an offense, is everybody being dynamic [and] having playmakers who can make plays on any side of the field in Mark [Andrews], [and] Zay [Flowers]. Zay had 132 yards in the first half, [and] I was like, ‘Woah. He was going crazy.’ ‘L’ [Lamar Jackson] was finding guys, ‘Bate’ [Rashod Bateman], ‘Nelly’ [Nelson Agholor]; it’s just been fun. I’m glad to see everybody putting in the hard work.”
At 4 – 2, the Ravens have made their mark as one of the top teams in the AFC. They’ve ripped off four consecutive wins and appear to be hitting on all cylinders. They’ll be on prime time next week when they face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Monday Night Football.
Flowers isn’t quite a household name right now. But soon the rest of the league will know what the Ravens have known for a whole.
“Zay Flowers is exactly the weapon we absolutely knew was and would be and has been, to be honest with you. He’s been there all along,”Harbaugh said.
