Big Pay Day for Zay?

Zay Flowers was the Ravens first pick in 2023, the 22nd overall. From the jump, Zay has been a consistent playmaker averaging 79 catches, 1,043 yards and 5 TDs during his three seasons in Baltimore. Flowers is scheduled to earn $2.7M in 2026 with a cap figure of $4.5M. But that’s about to change soon.

By May 1 the Ravens must commit to the 5th year option on Zay. That number is $27.3M, the same as the 2026 non-exclusive franchise tag for a WR. The hefty 5th year option number for Flowers is triggered by his two nominations to the Pro Bowl team. Should the Ravens pass on the option, Zay will be an unrestricted free agent in 2027.

Flowers isn’t your prototypical No. 1 receiver. He’s comparatively small, doesn’t command the kind of attention from opposing defensive coordinators and he’s not a consistent deep ball threat. But in his defense, he hasn’t been utilized that way even though he could be. Perhaps things will change for Zay in new offensive coordinator Declan Doyle’s offense who is a big proponent of explosive plays.

But the understated engine that propels explosive plays is the offensive line and the Ravens have a wretched one – at least inside the tackles. Maybe Doyle will move the pocket more than his predecessor Todd Monken did. Maybe GM Eric DeCosta will figure out a way to keep Lamar Jackson upright and plug the offensive line holes. But back to Zay.

I’m not one of the film study guys who adeptly dissects each Ravens game and provides analysis on YouTube and Twitter that outclasses the national programs. Thank you taking care of that for RSR, Cole Jackson. However, there were a number of times last season when I did look at film and watched a Ravens receiver break wide open for a potential score. Several of those times it was No. 4 with great separation, only to have the interior offensive line get destroyed, forcing Lamar to move off his mark and out of the receiver’s sight line.

Or worse, Lamar ended up on his back.

Of course there were some exceptions when the talents of this pitch and catch tandem couldn’t be stopped.

Lamar Jackson held onto the ball for 5.37 seconds before finding Zay Flowers for a 50-yard TD.

It was Jackson’s 11th TD pass since 2023 when scrambling with a time to throw over four seconds, fewer than only Josh Allen (12).#BALvsPIT | #RavensFlockpic.twitter.com/Y3sMO2L2n9

— Next Gen Stats (@NextGenStats) January 5, 2026

Last year the Ravens decided not to extend the 5th year option to Tyler Linderbaum. The prevailing feeling was that the number for the 5th year option, $21M, was too high. Less than a year later the Ravens offered Lindy a 4-year, $88M deal. In hindsight, maybe EDC would have given Linderbaum the fifth instead of taking fifth. We’ll see if that is a lesson learned for the Ravens GM with Flowers, who plays a position that will command an APY of well over $30M.

We’ll know for sure in 41 days.

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