After months of terrible headline after terrible headline, the Baltimore Ravens finally had something go in their favor on the first day of the 2023 NFL Draft. After signing Lamar Jackson to a long-term deal at the start of the day, the Ravens capped off Thursday by selecting Boston College wide receiver Zay Flowers with their first pick in the draft. All in all, when combined with the recent signing of Odell Beckham, Ravens fans should be feeling good – and the mood should only improve in the coming days.
"I was super excited. It brought tears to my eyes." @ZayFlowers talks about his emotions after getting selected by the Ravens. pic.twitter.com/6Y2LAUjRW8
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) April 28, 2023
Zay Flowers Selection, Lamar Jackson Contract Form Perfect Start to Ravens Draft
The Lamar Jackson Contract
After months upon months of very public contract negotiations, Lamar Jackson is going to be a Raven for the foreseeable future. The Jalen Hurts deal clearly helped both sides establish Jackson’s market value, as both player and team ultimately came to terms on a deal that makes sense for both parties. Jackson became the highest-paid player in football (although Justin Herbert and Joe Burrow will surely change that before long), and the Ravens didn’t have to hand out a fully-guaranteed contract.
From a team-building standpoint, it is obviously fantastic news that the Ravens were able to retain their franchise quarterback. Jackson is one of the most dynamic and dangerous players in the league when healthy, and as long as he’s on the field, Baltimore will be one of the top teams in their conference. Securing Jackson long-term is obviously the biggest takeaway here, but it’s not the only important thing to note. Prior the contract extension, Lamar Jackson was on the book for a $32.4 million cap hit. As of this posting, Jackson’s new cap hit is not yet available to the public, but it’s safe to assume that it will create roughly $5-$15 million in spending money. Now, the Ravens need to figure out what to do with that money.
The obvious answer here is trade for DeAndre Hopkins. While recent reports suggest the Bills and the Chiefs are frontrunners in a DeAndre Hopkins trade, this newfound financial freedom could allow the Ravens to get back in the bidding. Odell Beckham, DeAndre Hopkins, and Rashod Bateman would form a solid wide receiver trio, but their depth got a lot better during the first round of the NFL Draft.
Zay Flowers to the Ravens
Of course, Jackson’s contract extension was just the beginning, as the Ravens also added Zay Flowers, a wide receiver that could easily be the best in his class when all is said and done. The Boston College product is a phenomenal fit for the offense, capable of winning at all three levels of the field and creating chunk plays after the catch. If the Ravens don’t trade for DeAndre Hopkins, the team will still have a solid wide receiver trio in Odell Beckham, Zay Flowers, and Rashod Bateman. However, if they get Hopkins, then they have four players that are all capable of being top options in a passing attack. This doesn’t even include Mark Andrews, one of the best receiving tight ends in the league, or Isaiah Likely, who showed plenty of promise as a rookie.
Don’t look now, but after months of despair, Baltimore finally looks like they’re back on track. Lamar Jackson and Zay Flowers will both be Ravens for the long haul, and this team should be one of the best in the AFC next year as long as everyone stays healthy.
Main Photo: Kirby Lee – USA Today Sports
