Lamar Jackson wanted the Ravens to add Odell Beckham Jr. and DeAndre Hopkins, but they’re exploring a more affordable option to meet his demand.
For moment there, it looked like Lamar Jackson wouldn’t be returning to the Ravens. But now it’s hard to imagine him ending up anywhere else even with a contract dispute still very unresolved.
The signing of Odell Beckham Jr. was as clear a sign as any that Baltimore is taking pains to get back in the good graces of their former MVP quarterback.
OBJ apparently wasn’t the only receiver Jackson pushed for the team to add. According to one report, the QB told the Ravens he wanted Beckham and DeAndre Hopkins, the Cardinals star currently looking for a trade.
Realistically, Baltimore couldn’t afford to add OBJ and Hopkins, while also meeting Jackson’s contract demands. But there’s a better way to ensure Jackson has another new target in 2023.
Ravens hosting Zay Flowers, potential solution to Lamar Jackson WR ask
The Ravens are bringing in Boston College wide receiver Zay Flowers for a pre-draft meeting on Monday, according to Taylor Bisciotti of NFL Network.
Flowers is one of the top wide receivers in the upcoming NFL Draft but the class is deep enough that he might be available at No. 22 when Baltimore gets to pick their first rounder.
As a senior at BC, Flowers had 1,077 yards and 12 touchdowns on 78 receptions. He ran a 4.42 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine and looks like a dangerous playmaker in the slot. He has rare explosiveness and change of direction.
Meeting with Flowers doesn’t mean the Ravens will even get the chance to take him in the draft, but the fact that they’re looking at him suggests they understand hitting on a wide receiver in the first round can be huge for an offense.
Jackson won’t need an aging WR like Hopkins if Baltimore gives him a young talent to catch passes for years to come.
