The Baltimore Ravens selected Zay Flowers with the 22nd overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, and since then, he has become the team’s bona fide WR1.
Last season, he had the best year of his career, and now the Ravens have rewarded him with a four-year, $140 million contract extension. The deal includes $108 million in guaranteed money and is a significant investment by Baltimore in Lamar Jackson’s most trusted receiver.
Zay Flowers’ Contract Extension Draws Reactions From NFL Community
With his new deal, Flowers will earn an average annual salary of $35 million, and is tied for the fourth-highest paid receiver in the league alongside Justin Jefferson.
Ahead of the Ravens star are Drake London ($35.2635 million in AAV), Ja’Marr Chase ($40.25 million in AAV), and Jaxon Smith-Njigba ($42.15 million in AAV).
Given the nature of the deal, the Ravens were expected to receive some mixed reviews, and here’s how the NFL world on social media reacted to it:
CBS Sports’ JP Acosta was in some disbelief after seeing Flowers’ contract value, and wrote, “I beg your pardon”
One fan on X added a video of Stephen A. Smith’s entrance at an NBA All-Star game with the text: “Zay Flowers agent after robbing the Ravens:”
Zay Flowers agent after robbing the Ravens: pic.twitter.com/9o3YhO5Fdy
— Carlton Banks’ Burner Account (@cbanksburner) August 4, 2026
Another fan mocked the Ravens’ decision and said, “HOLY OVERPAY FOR A GADGET PLAYER.”
A user named “Torch Sports” brought up Bijan Robinson’s deal and wrote, “This is why I don’t get the WR/RB pay discrepancy Zay Flowers is worth 35 mil/yr and Bijan is only worth 25 mil/yr? That’s insane.This is why I don’t get the WR/RB pay discrepancy Zay Flowers is worth 35 mil/yr and Bijan is only worth 25 mil/yr? That’s insane.”
Earlier today, Robinson signed a three-year, $66.75 million extension, which will pay him an average annual salary of $22.25 million.
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However, not everyone thought the Ravens made a bad decision by giving Flowers $140 million.
Spenny Powers said, “BANG. Flowers is worth it.”
BANG. Flowers is worth it. https://t.co/PZ5ir72Z7S
— Spenny Powers (@ravens4dummies) August 4, 2026
Zach Bollinger also liked the Ravens’ decision and said, ‘Extending your young stars. Crazy concept. Hell yeah, Zay.”
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Matt King said, “LETS GO, Zay Flowers, WELL DESERVED.”
One fan also said, “deserved” while sharing Flowers’ highlight reel on X.
Deserved🔥 pic.twitter.com/egEFqwvbcl
— BuffBoy 🦬 (@skobuffss) August 4, 2026
In 2025, which was his third year in the league, Flowers finished the season with 86 receptions for 1,211 yards and five touchdowns on 119 targets in 17 games. According to PFN’s WR Impact Metric, he posted an impact score of 80.6, ranking ninth in the league.
Zay Flowers was a top-10 player in PFN’s WR Impact metric in 2025. 👀 pic.twitter.com/H0dqTYSrf7
— Pro Football Network (@PFN365) August 4, 2026
Flowers has made improvements each year, and this is reflected in PFN’s WR Metric as well. In his rookie season, he had an impact score of 78.3 and ranked 24th at his position. The 25-year-old wideout then posted an impact score of 81.9 in his sophomore season and ranked 11th in the league.
Although the Ravens drafted two receivers this year, Ja’Kobi Lane out of USC, and Elijah Sarratt out of Indiana, Flowers remains the clear-cut first option for Jackson in the passing game.
The Ravens have a new offensive coordinator in Declan Doyle this year under new head coach Jesse Minter, and it was important for them to have Flowers available on the field without the contract uncertainty hanging over his head.
Now that he has agreed on a new deal, the Ravens can embark on a new era without any noise in their building. The team will also hope that Flowers’ extension will help them in convincing Jackson to sign his own new contract, as he is set to become a free agent in 2028.
