The Baltimore Ravens may need to extend Zay Flowers earlier than expected, as the record-setting Jaxon Smith-Njigba contract extension could complicate things.
The Seattle Seahawks just blew the wide receiver market wide open, giving standout Jaxon Smith-Njigba a market-setting $42.15 million per season deal on a four-year, $168.6 million deal. Considering Smith-Njigba is now the highest-paid receiver, this may push the Baltimore Ravens into wanting to extend Zay Flowers earlier than expected.
It has been well established that the Ravens plan to exercise the fifth-year option on Flowers' contract, which will pay him something along the lines of $27.3 million for that season.
The issue is Flowers has only continued to get better, posting his best season in 2025. He secured 1,211 yards, five touchdowns, and a 14.1 yards per catch average, in what was a down year for the Ravens in general.
Had Lamar Jackson not been hurt and injuries led to an 8-9 season for Baltimore, Flowers may have exceeded expectations in a big way. He did just that, but he may have had even better production if the team had been more in sync.
That said, will the record deal for Smith-Njigba lead the Ravens to want to pull back from exercising Flowers' fifth-year option?
Considering Flowers is set for his fourth season in the NFL, his production is not on the same level as someone like Los Angeles Rams receiver Puka Nacua. The Ravens' pass catcher has showcased some evolving skills, but he is still lower on the tier list as compared to Nacua and Smith-Njigba.
Flowers' 2025 stats place him at No. 7 overall in total receiving yards. His 14.1 yards per catch average places him No. 27, and his 71.2 yards per game average is No. 11.
Simply put, Flowers keeps closing in on being a top 10 receiver in all catching categories, which would push the Ravens to have to offer him far more on an annual basis on his next deal.
Waiting and exercising his fifth-year option may not be the smartest play by the Ravens front office, simply because if they delay his extension, he will only seemingly get better.
The Ravens are expected to have a bounce-back season, and Flowers will be at the center of that. This will be especially true if the Baltimore front office does not bring in more receivers to complement him.
This is always the toughest part of negotiations: when to engage in them. If the Ravens want to potentially save some money, they may want to discuss an extension right now with Flowers, instead of allowing him to continue to gain steam to match players like Smith-Njigba and Nacua.
As it stands, that is exactly what he is doing, and he showcased that fact in a big way in what was a big-time down year for the Ravens in general.
If Baltimore waits till 2028, Flowers may be in for his own market-setting contract, and that could be approaching $50 million.