Lamar Jackson, the two-time NFL MVP and three-time AFC Pro Bowler recently signed a massive five-year, $260 million contract that included $185 million in total guarantees that made him the highest-paid quarterback and player in NFL history at the time.
Jackson was selected in the first round (32nd overall) in 2018 by Baltimore who traded up to land the talented quarterback, which proved to be a massive gamble that has paid off perfectly.
All that success for the Ravens means that you’ll earn lots of trust and input from the front office and coaching staff alike. Especially coach John Harbaugh, who on multiple occasions, has gone to bat for Jackson, and given Lamar his choice on whether to go for it on fourth down on many occasions, and it’s worked out.
Last Season, the Ravens selected star receiver Zay Flowers (22nd overall) in the 2023 NFL Draft out Boston College. A big reason why he was selected was Lamar Jackson and here’s what he had to say about the Ravens selecting Flowers.
“I heard about Zay Flowers in youth football growing up. They were always talking about, ‘The little kid; No. 4,’ [or] No. 7 or something like that. I always heard about Zay, [and] in high school, college, he was still that same guy. And when I was watching him on tape and stuff like that, I [was] like, ‘Man, he …’ Even though his team [at Boston College] wasn’t … They weren’t all that. I don’t want to say it like that, but they weren’t all that.” (laughter) “But Zay made the most of it. [He] made the most of his opportunities, and he just showed it. He was the same guy from youth football all the way up until now. So, I just put a bug in [executive vice president & general manager] Eric [DeCosta]’s ear; I was like, ‘Man, we need to go get him,’ and he just did the rest.
Now this year, with Zay Flowers being a huge part of the Ravens’ success in 2023-24, the Ravens, once again, are listening to Jackson’s advice on wide receivers in the upcoming 2024 NFL Draft.
Coach John Harbaugh said
“Lamar Jackson has told the organization about a few of the WRs that he likes coming out in the draft.”
With Odell Beckham Jr and Devin Duvernay gone to free agency, the Ravens are looking to get more help at the wide receiver position. The draft is the key but they’ve also hosted the likes of Michael Gallup and Josh Reynolds to visits recently.
Will the Ravens draft a receiver in the first round?
