On the identical day they signed quarterback Lamar Jackson to a record-setting extension, the Ravens additionally made a draft choose: broad receiver Zay Flowers. Never have we seen the staff’s first-round choose so utterly overshadowed, however listed below are three takeaways from the staff’s large day.
The Ravens continued their current theme, including one other thrilling toy for his or her franchise quarterback.
First, Odell Beckham Jr., now Flowers, one of the vital gushed-over playmakers on this draft class.
Jackson didn’t wait lengthy to have a good time. “I’m smelling more good news dropping soon,” he tweeted simply earlier than the Ravens picked at No. 22 general. “Well it happened,” he added when their choose was introduced.
The Ravens had their selection of two excellent cornerbacks, long-armed Joey Porter Jr. of Penn State and ultra-athletic Baltimore native Deonte Banks. General supervisor Eric DeCosta mentioned in addition they had alternatives to maneuver down and add extra picks. Instead, they added to a place group they mentioned could be their No. 1 offseason venture, selecting a large receiver within the first spherical for the third time in 5 years. Was this a part of their gross sales pitch to Jackson as they zeroed in on an extension settlement? It couldn’t have damage.
The choose additionally amounted to a vote of confidence in new offensive coordinator Todd Monken’s capability to design a fast-paced passing assault that may maintain defenses off steadiness in any respect ranges of the sector. Pro Bowl tight finish Mark Andrews will now not be a lonely warrior on third down with Beckham operating pristine routes, a wholesome Rashod Bateman beating defensive backs off the road of scrimmage and Flowers bursting forth from the slot. No Ravens broad receiver reached even 500 yards final season; it’s onerous to fathom we’ll see a repeat with all this new expertise available.
“Todd Monken had a good day today,” Ravens coach John Harbaugh mentioned, laughing. “He better be happy.”
Flowers had a sense that if he made it to No. 22, he could be headed to Baltimore. “That was my best visit,” he mentioned, echoing DeCosta’s ideas about their face-to-face interview.
His enthusiasm will probably be matched by that of a fan base bored with lamenting the Ravens’ lack of funding in weapons for Jackson. Remember the gloom that hung over this city a month in the past? It’s burning away in a rush.
“Somebody gives us a challenge? We will attack it,” DeCosta mentioned.
The Ravens picked a participant who generated large enthusiasm amongst draft analysts.
It’s not onerous to inform when the pundits genuinely like a prospect. The 5-foot-9, 182-pound Flowers doesn’t match the traditional picture of a celebrity broad receiver. Though loads quick, he’s not a sprinter on par with the primary broad receiver the Ravens drafted within the Jackson period, Marquise Brown. But he earned many followers by sticking with Boston College and producing in the midst of an undermanned offense when he simply may have transferred to a glitzier program. His effort by no means waned, even because the Eagles’ offense floundered round him.
He radiates confidence. No surprise former Ravens begin Steve Smith Sr. mentioned Flowers reminds him of himself.
“It’s about what’s in your chest,” Flowers instructed Baltimore reporters, explaining what he realized from watching tape of Smith since he was in elementary college.
DeCosta really talked with Smith about Flowers on the NFL scouting mix. “If Steve Smith has that much respect for a receiver,” he mentioned, “you better pay attention. It’s like when Ozzie [Newsome] likes a tight end.”
On the sector, Flowers can play inside or exterior, although he’s maybe greatest suited as a yards-after-catch menace from the slot, a high quality that additionally reminded Harbaugh of Smith.
“I can do whatever you need me to do,” Flowers mentioned, flashing that confidence once more.
Flowers appeared thrilled to be a part of Jackson’s large day, even when that meant he wasn’t the lead character.
In a typical yr, the Ravens’ first-round choose is the fruits of three months of hypothesis, an event to have a good time a brand new prince of the ball. Not in 2023. Not on the identical day a very powerful particular person within the franchise lastly agreed to a contract extension, ending greater than a yr of anxious hypothesis over his future.
Thursday will go down as one for the annals of Ravens historical past, it doesn’t matter what Flowers does along with his profession.
Perhaps we’ll by no means know precisely what turned the tide in negotiations between the Ravens and Jackson, who took to social media to say he had requested for a commerce a month earlier than he signed his new deal. Did the signing of broad receiver Odell Beckham thaw the ice? Did Jalen Hurts’ $255 million extension (with 70% of it assured) with the Philadelphia Eagles lastly give Jackson and DeCosta the tangible mark they wanted to shoot for? It’s onerous to suppose that deal, consummated 10 days earlier than Jackson’s, didn’t play some half, on condition that the Ravens reportedly beat it by precisely $5 million (and assured 71% of it).
Regardless, the Ravens and Jackson got here to the conclusion that made probably the most sense for either side. They can now proceed with their quest to win a Super Bowl, devoid of the strain that might have lingered if the quarterback had performed the 2023 season beneath the $32.4 million franchise tag. No one must guess at contingency plans or surprise who will probably be on the middle of the staff’s plans for 2024 and past.
Jackson must do his half to place the recollections of two straight season-ending accidents and previous playoff disappointments behind him. If something, he will probably be judged by much more unforgiving requirements going ahead. But these are considerations for future days.
How will Flowers match into the narrative? He was fired up when he noticed information of Jackson’s extension, although he was not but a Raven on the time.
“Oh, if I go there, it’s going to be a lot of trouble on the field,” he recalled considering. “We double juiced up.”
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Source: www.bostonherald.com