Zay Flowers entered the 2023 NFL Draft as a red-hot name — one who began surfacing as a late first-round option. Sure enough, the Baltimore Ravens swooped up the elusive and explosive wide receiver from Boston College at No. 22 overall.
But could Flowers earn this next title: WR1 for the 2023 Ravens, even with Odell Beckham Jr. on board?
What Does the Ravens Wide Receiver Room Look Like After the 2023 NFL Draft?
Beckham is obviously considered a significant signing for a Ravens team that just gave Lamar Jackson his $260 million deal. OBJ gives the Ravens a three-time Pro Bowler and Super Bowl winner at WR.
However, his addition comes with skepticism — regarding his health.
Beckham, 30, has not played since Feb. 13, 2022, in Super Bowl 56 with the Los Angeles Rams after tearing his ACL. Teams shied from signing him during the 2022 season amid concerns over the knee ailment. While he comes with Pro Bowl credentials, he’ll also come with questions of whether his restructured knee will hold up.
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Before OBJ, the Ravens made another move to get a veteran on board in Nelson Agholor. The 29-year-old WR is now on his fourth NFL franchise but spent his last two seasons with the New England Patriots. Agholor will seek to re-establish himself in Charm City after catching no more than 37 passes for the Pats.
He also hasn’t caught more than 60 passes since 2018, when he was with the Philadelphia Eagles. However, just three seasons ago, Agholor averaged 18.7 yards per catch with the Las Vegas Raiders — which could give Jackson a needed field-stretching option.
One primary reason behind the veteran moves deals with the Ravens aiming to shed the dismal production from their WR room. None of Baltimore’s wideouts recorded more than 50 receptions, as the leader was Demarcus Robinson (just 48 grabs). Devin Duvernay followed with only 37 catches. Tight end Mark Andrews ended up catching 25 more receptions than Robinson.
Robinson is now an unsigned free agent. Duvernay has one more year left on his deal before becoming an unrestricted free agent for 2024.
Who Is the Ravens’ WR1?
Even with Beckham bringing his decorated résumé to Baltimore, this is arguably the most wide-open place for someone to move into the lead wide receiver role for the wealthy Jackson.
And that includes the Day 1 selection for the Ravens. Flowers has a tremendous opportunity to snatch the WR1 role immediately, even with Beckham and fellow veteran Agholor in the building.
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Flowers doesn’t have the prototypical build most NFL teams seek, as he stands at 5’9″, 182 pounds. He’s not in the physical category, either, as he’s not someone who can outmuscle cornerbacks inside the red zone. His size may also get head coach John Harbaugh to shy away from throwing him in the middle of field traffic on routes.
However, this offense needs a run-after-catch threat and someone capable of blowing the top off defenses. Flowers was known for both in the ACC. His speed, separation, and fiery second gear make him someone capable of setting the tone for this aerial attack moving forward … even alongside OBJ.