Ravens’ Best Pick? Most Pundits Agree on Zay Flowers

As pundits look over the Ravens’ 2023 draft class, they are excited most with their Day 1 pick, wide receiver Zay Flowers.

The Athletic’s Jeff Zrebiec, without hesitation, has Flowers as the team’s best pick.

“It won’t win any points for originality, but how can you say anything bad about Flowers? The dynamic playmaker out of Boston College became the latest piece to the team’s offseason wide receiver makeover, which also featured the arrival of veterans Odell Beckham Jr. and Nelson Agholor,” Zrebiec wrote.

“The Ravens fell in love with the former Boston College star during the pre-draft process. They love his route running, his speed to get behind a defense, his ability after the catch and his toughness. They think he’ll be a true home run threat and a strong complement to Beckham, Rashod Bateman and tight end Mark Andrews.”

Zrebiec’s teammate, Dane Brugler, agreed that Flowers was his favorite pick.

“No need to overthink this one. Flowers adds another dynamic option to the Ravens’ offense, which will force defenses to cover every inch of the field,” Brugler wrote. “With Todd Monken at play caller, QB Lamar Jackson locked in for the next five years and a reworked wide receiver depth chart, the narrative about the Ravens’ offense has taken an optimistic turn.”

ESPN’s Todd McShay also pointed to Flowers, who the Ravens snagged at No. 22 as the third receiver (behind Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Quentin Johnston) in a run of four straight wideouts.

“I love Flowers’ game, and no matter how many times [Mel] Kiper tries to claim this is his guy, I’ve been touting him since I watched Boston College practices last summer. College coach Jeff Hafley called him the ‘Energizer Bunny’ and it fits; Flowers plays with so much juice. He has 4.42 speed, but that’s just part of it. He releases off the line of scrimmage in a flash and immediately gets separation with burst. If Flowers finds daylight, he’s gone. And you bet the Ravens will use him in…