Ravens coach John Harbaugh talked about Thursday night time time that his new offensive coordinator Todd Monken “had day immediately.”
That was an understatement. First, the Ravens locked up quarterback Lamar Jackson to a worthwhile long-term deal inside the afternoon, then six hours later they gave him one different weapon for an offense that all the sudden has the potential to be a few of the explosive inside the NFL.
Harbaugh talked about last month that the Ravens would draft a big receiver they often adopted through, deciding on Zay Flowers out of Boston Faculty with the twenty second common determine of the NFL draft.
“That was most likely my greatest go to,” Flowers talked about of his predraft go to with the Ravens earlier this month. “I knew if I reached [pick] 22, I had a sense they had been going to select me. So, it labored out good.”
Although the Ravens had already bolstered their receiving corps this offseason with the free agent additions of two-time All-Professional Odell Beckham Jr. and veteran Nelson Agholor, it was clear that primary supervisor Eric DeCosta felt the need to proceed to strengthen one in all many weakest positions on the roster.
It moreover presents Jackson, who agreed to a five-year deal value a reported $260 million to make him the highest-paid participant inside the NFL with regards to annual widespread wage, an explosive participant at a spot they badly wished one. Final season, the Ravens’ broad receivers accomplished last inside the NFL in yards by a big margin.
Flowers should be an immediate help.
Whereas he’s merely 5-foot-9 and 182 kilos, what he lacks in measurement he higher than makes up for in elusiveness, tempo and actual route working. He ran the 40-yard dash in 4.42 seconds on the NFL scouting combine and had a 58.3% contested catch charge last season whereas racking up higher than 500 yards after the catch, primarily based on Professional Soccer Focus.
Flowers accomplished last season with 78 catches for 1,077 yards and 12 touchdowns. He moreover had 5 or further receptions on targets 20-plus yards downfield in all 4 of his college seasons, along with 12 in 2022.
“I can do no matter you want me to do,” Flowers talked about. “I can run each route you give me; I can separate; I could make aggressive catches. No matter you must do to play on the surface, I really feel like I can do, and I can do it at a excessive stage.”
In teaming with Jackson, there’s moreover a stage of familiarity. Flowers, who has 12 brothers and sisters and returned to Boston Faculty for his senior yr no matter a reported worthwhile six-figure establish, image and likeness provide to change colleges, grew up in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, one metropolis over from the place Jackson starred in Pompano Seashore.
“My first time seeing one thing about Lamar was when he made the highschool transfer the place he pointed at [the defender] and walked into the top zone,” Flowers talked about. “Once I came upon that was him, I used to be like, ‘Oh, sure. He’s going to be particular when he will get to the league.’”
The Ravens assume they’re usually specific, too, and with good function.
A receiving corps that was the worst inside the NFL last season now is likely to be the simplest with Beckham, Flowers, Agholor and Rashod Bateman. There’s moreover tight ends Mark Andrews, an All-Professional in 2021, and youthful nevertheless promising Isaiah Doubtless, along with a sturdy working sport and offensive line.
“That’s two guys [Jackson and Beckham] that’s explosive and may make performs at any time,” Flowers talked about. “ what Lamar can do. what Odell can do. You’ve seen flashes of it; simply so occurred that he acquired harm, however he’s 100[%] now. … It’s gonna be enjoyable.”
DeCosta talked about that the Ravens purchased calls about their No. 22 determine, giving them an opportunity to maneuver down and buy one different determine or two. With merely 5 picks coming into the night time time, Baltimore tied for the second-fewest with the Denver Broncos behind solely the Miami Dolphins.
However given the need and what the Ravens observed in Flowers, who they began scouting in 2021 and checked out carefully all through the East-West Shrine Bowl, they weren’t going to cross up the possibility. Likewise, Flowers talked about he felt a “connection” with the Ravens all through the latter.
DeCosta talked about together with broad receivers is one factor that he considered whereas watching the employees last season and correct after the season ended with a 24-17 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals inside the wild-card spherical.
“Zay was extremely rated and match what we do,” DeCosta talked about. “We felt there is likely to be a run on huge receivers [at that point in the draft]. Passing on Zay to get a pair further picks was most likely not the neatest factor to do.”
Significantly if he appears anyplace shut to just about pretty much as good because the earlier Raven that he’s drawn comparisons to, Steve Smith Sr.
“I’ve been watching his tape since I used to be, what — 6 or 7 years outdated?” Flowers talked about of Smith. “My dad at all times advised me, ‘It doesn’t matter about measurement; it’s about what’s in your chest.’ He at all times saved me motivated and mentioned, ‘It’s important to be like Steve Smith. Steve Smith was a canine.’ So, that’s what made me like him, and love him and watch him lots. So, it means lots to look as much as him, and to get to satisfy him was extraordinarily nice.”
Likewise, DeCosta talked about that Smith cherished what he observed in Flowers.
“If he has that a lot respect for a large receiver, you higher concentrate,” DeCosta talked about.
The Ravens’ offense must get a great deal of consideration with the return of Jackson and Flowers now inside the fold, too.
“Once I noticed him [Jackson] signal that, I used to be like, ‘Oh, if I am going there, it’s going to be numerous bother on the sphere,” Flowers talked about. “However I used to be comfortable for him. I’m glad he acquired what he wished, and we’re double juiced up.”
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