Pundit Predicts Record-Setting Season for Zay Flowers
After setting Ravens rookie records for receiving yards (858) and catches (77) last season, what will Zay Flowers do for an encore in Year 2?
The Athletic’s Robert Mays predicted Flowers will break the franchise's single-season record for receiving yards by a wide receiver (1,201), which was set by Michael Jackson in the Ravens' inaugural season of 1996.
"I truly think he has a chance to take that sort of step in his second season," Mays said on “The Athletic Football Show.” "I thought he was really good as a rookie, and I think they have a sense of how good he is and how different he is to the guys they've typically trotted out at that position. I think they feature him enough to potentially get into that ballpark this year."
Only one Ravens wide receiver has had a 1,000-yard season since Lamar Jackson took over as starting quarterback, and it was Marquise "Hollywood" Brown (1,008 yards in 2021). That same season, tight end Mark Andrews had 1,361 yards, which is the franchise's single-season record.
Derrick Henry Is No. 2 in Maurice Jones-Drew's RB1 Rankings
Mays' prediction for Flowers was part of a larger discussion in which he and co–host Derrik Klassen previewed the 2024 Ravens. Mays commented on the impact of adding running back Derrick Henry to an already potent offense, saying the Ravens "have an opportunity to be really, really scary on that side of the ball."
NFL.com analyst Maurice Jones-Drew had a similar take regarding Henry. He put the four-time Pro Bowler at No. 2 in his RB1 rankings heading into the season.
"In each of the last five seasons, the Ravens' leading rusher has been ... a quarterback. As good as Lamar Jackson is in the run game – it's no wonder Baltimore has fielded a top-three ground attack every season since drafting the dynamic dual-threat -- Henry adds a physical, downhill element that will take the offense to the next level," Jones-Drew wrote. "The 6-foot-2, 247-pounder is one of the best backs of his generation, and the Ravens know 'King Henry' can practically hit 1,000 yards in his sleep.
"This is the perfect spot for the 30-year-old to add to his already-illustrious career."
The only running back ranked ahead of Henry was the San Francisco 49ers' Christian McCaffrey.
Pundit Says Ar'Darius Washington Has Gone From 'Bubble' Talk to Roster Lock
After playing just eight games over three injury-hampered seasons, there was speculation that defensive back Ar'Darius Washington's spot on the 53-man roster this season was in question, especially after the signing of Eddie Jackson. Washington's performances in training camp have put any such speculation to rest.
"If there's a perception that fourth-year defensive back Ar'Darius Washington was on the
'bubble' heading into training camp, that should no longer be the case," The Athletic's Jeff Zrebiec wrote. "Washington continued his strong summer by picking off a lazy Josh Johnson pass to the flat and returning it for a touchdown [yesterday]. Washington seems to get his hands on the football at least once per practice.
"Not only does it feel like he's a lock to make the 53-man roster, but there's a good chance he'll have a defensive role in Week 1 against the Kansas City Chiefs, particularly if slot corner Arthur Maulet (knee) remains out."
Head Coach John Harbaugh and Defensive Coordinator Zach Orr both said this week how impressed they are with Washington.
"He's playing at a high level," Harbaugh said. "He's playing both safety positions, [and] he's playing the nickel. And he can play either corner outside, if he had to, to get you out of a game, and he can go in a dime if he had to – he knows the defense that well. His style is pretty much patented, that's his style [and] the way he plays. I think it's a style worthy of emulating, so [I'm] very glad he's on our team."
Orr said: "He's a scrappy guy, he's explosive, he's a takeaway machine. I can sit up here and talk to you all day about 'A.D.' – we love him. It's great to see him healthy, it's great to see him having a great camp, and he's going to do great things for us this year."
Veteran WR Anthony Miller Making His Presence Felt
Veteran wide receiver Anthony Miller hasn't wasted any time in making a positive impression.
"He has only been with the Ravens since Sunday but has already made his presence felt with several catches," The Baltimore Sun’s Brian Wacker wrote. "That included Tuesday, when he got by cornerback Marlon Humphrey during one-on-one drills and hauled in a long touchdown pass from Lamar Jackson. Then Jackson hit the receiver again during a 7-on-7 period with a perfectly thrown deep ball down the sideline that Miller caught between Washington and cornerback Ka'dar Hollman.
"Given the lack of production from the back end of the Ravens' receiving corps, Miller could possibly make a push for a roster spot or more likely the practice squad."
Miller, who hasn't played in a regular-season game since 2021 and has been on several teams' practice squads since, is vying for a spot as the Ravens' fifth or sixth receiver with a host of others.
A 2018 second-round pick by the Chicago Bears, the 29-year-old Miller has 140 career catches for 1,589 yards and 12 touchdowns over four seasons.
Quick Hits
Yesterday's Most Read: Ravens Sign Veteran Running Back
- The Ringer’s Sheil Kapadia and Diante Lee both included the Ravens in their rankings of the top 10 offenses heading into the season.
