Zay Flowers agrees to four-year $140 million extension with Ravens
The Ravens have secured wide receiver Zay Flowers with a contract extension including $108 million in guaranteed money.
Zay Flowers agrees to four-year $140 million extension with Ravens
The Baltimore Ravens and wide receiver Zay Flowers reached an agreement Tuesday, August 4, 2026, on a four-year contract extension worth $140 million. The deal, reported by ESPN's Adam Schefter via Flowers' agency, WIN Sports Group, includes $108 million in guaranteed money.
The agreement averages $35 million per season, making Flowers the second-highest paid player in Ravens history, trailing only quarterback Lamar Jackson. It also represents the largest financial commitment the franchise has ever made to a wide receiver.
Flowers was noticeably absent from the team's practice on Tuesday, though he remained on the field to follow his teammates. Flowers shared a hug on the practice field shortly before the official announcement.
The 25-year-old former Boston College standout is entering his fourth NFL season. The extension follows a period of several weeks of discussions and comes as a priority for both sides this offseason. A decision on Flowers' fifth-year option had been due on May 1, and while the Ravens had already exercised that option for 2027, general manager Eric DeCosta had expressed confidence that a long-term deal would be finalized before the regular season.
Breaking Franchise Records
Selected as the No. 22 overall pick in the 2023 NFL draft, Flowers has become the most productive homegrown wide receiver in the history of the organization. He is a two-time Pro Bowler, earning selections in 2024 and 2025. By earning the 2024 honor, he became the first drafted Ravens wide receiver to ever make the Pro Bowl.
In his first 50 regular-season games, Flowers recorded 237 catches, 3,128 yards, and 16 touchdowns (though some sources report 14 touchdowns). He currently ranks fifth in franchise history in both receptions and receiving yards. He is one of only nine players in Ravens history to record two 1,000-yard receiving seasons.
Last season, Flowers set a franchise record for a wide receiver with 1,211 receiving yards. His career-high season also included 86 receptions. According to Bolavip, he added 62 rushing yards and one rushing touchdown during that 17-game stretch.
Market Positioning and Role
The extension places Flowers among the elite earners at his position. He now ranks as the fourth-highest paid receiver in the NFL. The top three include:
| Player | Team | Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Jaxon Smith-Njigba | Seattle Seahawks | $42.15 million |
| Ja’Marr Chase | Cincinnati Bengals | $40.25 million |
| Drake London | Atlanta Falcons | $35.3 million |
The urgency for the deal was driven by a rising market for pass catchers; 19 wide receivers now earn at least $25 million annually. Flowers, who stands 5-foot-9 and weighs 183 pounds, has overcome concerns regarding his size and red zone threat by remaining durable and productive, playing all but one game in three years.
Flowers has maintained a strong rapport and friendship with Lamar Jackson, who supported the decision to draft him in 2023. The extension ensures Jackson retains a primary target who averages 13.2 yards per reception and possesses elite acceleration.
Broader Team Strategy
This move is part of a larger trend by general manager Eric DeCosta to lock in core talent. The Ravens have recently signed extensions with several key players, including:
- Running back Derrick Henry
- Wide receiver Rashod Bateman
- Tight end Mark Andrews
- Left tackle Ronnie Stanley
- Nose tackle Travis Jones
- Safety Kyle Hamilton
By securing Flowers and Hamilton, the team has locked in two foundational members of their 2022 and 2023 draft classes. Flowers is now expected to return to practice to prepare for the upcoming season under offensive coordinator Declan Doyle.
