The new era is official, as Ravens head coach Jesse Minter just completed his first voluntary minicamp with Baltimore.
Minter will hit the ground running with high expectations, as the Ravens are among the teams with a projected win total of 10+ games. There have been changes to the roster and key personnel, but the infrastructure for a potential Super Bowl contender is still in place. Minter will need to improve the offensive line and add talent at edge rusher, defensive tackle, and cornerback. One big decision was whether to extend Zay Flowers' contract.
According to The Athletic's Jeff Zrebiec, Baltimore has decided to pay Flowers a fifth-year option valued at $27,298,000 due to the pass catcher making multiple Pro Bowls. Flowers wants to stay with the Ravens, and says he didn't pay close attention to Jaxon Smith-Njigba's four-year, $168.8 million extension — the deal that reset the wide receiver market.
The bigger story now centers on what a contract extension will look like for the two-time Pro Bowler. The price has risen after Seattle signed the star pass catcher to a deal that makes him the highest-paid receiver in NFL history.
As expected, the Ravens are picking up the fifth-year $28 million option on WR Zay Flowers rookie contract, per a source. He's now under contract with the team through 2027, but I'm sure both sides would like to hammer out a contract extension in the coming months.
Teams have until May 1 to decide whether or not to exercise the fifth-year option on first-round picks from the 2023 NFL draft.
The NFL currently operates under the 2020 collective bargaining agreement that is valid through the 2030 season. Article 7, Section 7 (g) of that agreement stipulates that a team can exercise a fifth-year option for all first-round draft picks. With the new league year fast approaching, here are the fifth-year option numbers for each position. The option means a team can keep its first-round pick for one extra year without agreeing to an extension. That fifth year's salary is fully guaranteed. All rookies who are drafted sign four-year contracts, and the fifth-year option is available only to first-round picks. Teams must decide on fifth-year options after a first-round rookie has played three full seasons in the NFL.
Because Flowers is a two-time Pro Bowler, his fifth-year option is $27,298,000
Flowers is the biggest star of the group, logging back-to-back Pro Bowls after accounting for 85 catches, 1,211 yards, and five touchdowns. As it stands, that salary would put Flowers and George Pickens tied for the 12th-highest paid at the position.
This article originally appeared on Ravens Wire: Ravens to pick up the $28M fifth year option on Zay Flowers