Zay Flowers keeps getting treated like a debate topic, but NFL players just gave the Ravens receiver another pretty loud answer.
Flowers landed at No. 71 on the NFL’s top 100 list, a spot that puts him squarely in No. 1 wideout territory even though the list isn’t finished yet. He’s ahead of names like A.J. Brown at 80 and Tetairoa McMillan at 87, which only adds to the case that his peers view him as more than just a productive young target in Baltimore.
That matters because Flowers has already done the heavy lifting on the field. Last season, he finished seventh in the league in receiving yards and sixth among wide receivers, yet there are still people who question whether he’s a true No.
- Ravens fans haven’t had much trouble figuring it out.
His production and his ability to line up and win in different ways have made the answer obvious.
He was the Ravens’ passing game last year. Rashod Bateman faded into the background, Mark Andrews dropped off, and Flowers kept the offense moving through the air.
His 1,211 receiving yards made up 36.9 percent of Baltimore’s total receiving yards, and he also ranked 10th in the NFL in target share. Even with Lamar missing four games, Flowers kept producing, which only strengthens the case for how valuable he was.
The route work backs it up too. According to Matt Harmon’s reception perception data, Flowers used 11 different routes, with dig routes making up the largest share at 20 percent. He also posted an 85.4 percent success rate against zone, one of the best marks in the league.
Matt Harmon’s 2025 Reception Perception profile on Flowers also highlighted a 72.5 percent success rate against man coverage and noted that Flowers posted career-best marks in several important categories. The overall picture was clear: he took a real step forward in isolation last season.
That growth has been part of Flowers’ climb since he entered the league. He’s always had the speed and the finesse, and now the route versatility is catching up.
There are still flaws. Ball security remains one of them, and Flowers had three fumbles last season.
But that number alone doesn’t knock him out of No. 1 receiver status. Jaxson Smith-Njigba also had three fumbles, and the point isn’t to say Flowers is better than JSN.
It’s simply that the issue isn’t a dealbreaker.
For Baltimore, the bigger picture is straightforward. Flowers has already shown he can be a quality No. 1, and that’s before you get to what comes next. His fifth-year option is worth $27.2 million, and his next extension should push him beyond the $30 million range.
With Declan Doyle’s new system and a fully healthy Lamar, Flowers could be headed for another jump. If that happens, the people still doubting him won’t have much left to say.
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That leaves Ronnie Stanley in a familiar spot as one of the biggest swing pieces on the roster. The veteran tackle, a former Pro Bowler, is being counted on to steady Lamar Jacksons protection after an injury-marred 2025 slowed his play, and the Ravens need a cleaner, more dependable version of Stanley if the offense is going to look like itself again. [Read more 🡒]