Ravens reportedly pick up fifth-year option on Pro Bowl wideout Zay Flowers

Chris CwikThu, April 23, 2026 at 2:06 PM UTC

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Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers has shown immense potential, and the ability to make game-breaking plays down the field in his first three seasons in the NFL. Because of that, the Ravens reportedly picked up Flowers’ fifth-year option Thursday, per multiple reports.

The move was expected, as Flowers has exceeded 1,000 yards and made the Pro Bowl in each of the past two seasons. With the decision, Flowers will remain in Baltimore through the 2027 NFL season. After making $2.6 million in 2026, Flowers’ salary will jump to roughly $27 million in 2027 due to the option.

After being selected with the No. 22 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, Flowers developed into the team’s top receiving option. He showed off his potential as a rookie, going for 858 yards and five touchdowns, which earned him some down-ballot Rookie of the Year votes.

He’s improved each year since then. During his second season, Flowers finished with 1,059 receiving yards and four touchdowns. That performance was enough to push Flowers into the Pro Bowl, making him the first wideout in team history to receive that honor. Prior to Flowers, the team did have three different wide receivers make the Pro Bowl, but as returners, not as wideouts.

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Flowers then built on that performance in 2025, gaining a career-high 1,211 yards and scoring five more touchdowns. He was once again elected to the Pro Bowl.

Despite his improving numbers, Flowers hasn’t been a big-time touchdown scorer in the NFL just yet. He’s mostly been a long-distance scorer, with just four of his touchdowns coming within the 10-yard line. During his time in Baltimore, the team has had strong tight ends — and bruising running back Derrick Henry — cutting into Flowers’ production in the red zone.

With a new coaching staff in Baltimore, that could change. Flowers has flashed as a potential star in the past, but team limitations have resulted in the Ravens really prioritizing the run during Flowers’ NFL career.

That’s generally worked well for the team, so a shift isn’t guaranteed. But if the new staff does decide to go with a more pass-heavy approach, Flowers stands as one of the key players who could benefit most from that shift. As evidenced by his fifth-year option being picked up, the new regime clearly believes in Flowers’ ability to take another step forward.

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Source: “AOL Sports”