Ravens' Top WRs Have Clear Futures With Franchise

Zay Flowers set to have 5th-year option picked up, while Rashod Bateman faces prove-it year in 2026.

Mar. 2, 2026 at 10:15pm

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The Baltimore Ravens have clarity on the futures of their top two wide receivers, Zay Flowers and Rashod Bateman. Flowers, a 2023 first-round pick, is expected to have his fifth-year option picked up, locking him in through 2027. Bateman, however, is coming off a down year and faces a prove-it season in 2026 before his contract escalates.

Why it matters

The Ravens have important contract decisions to make with their star players, including quarterback Lamar Jackson and center Tyler Linderbaum. Securing Flowers long-term is a priority, while Bateman will need to rebound to justify his rising salary over the next few years.

The details

Zay Flowers, the Ravens' 2023 first-round pick, has emerged as the team's clear number one receiver after back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons. The team is expected to pick up his fifth-year option, keeping him under contract through 2027 at $27.298 million. Rashod Bateman, on the other hand, is coming off the worst season of his career in 2025 with just 19 receptions for 224 yards and 2 touchdowns. He'll have a $6.1 million cap hit in 2026, but that number rises to $10.9 million in 2027, $12.9 million in 2028, and $14.9 million in 2029, putting pressure on him to prove his worth this upcoming season.

  • Zay Flowers was selected in the 1st round of the 2023 NFL Draft.
  • Flowers has posted back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons in 2024 and 2025.
  • Bateman signed a 3-year, $36.75 million contract extension with the Ravens in June 2025.

The players

Zay Flowers

A 2023 first-round pick of the Baltimore Ravens who has emerged as the team's clear number one receiver after back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons and Pro Bowl selections in 2024 and 2025.

Rashod Bateman

The Ravens' 2023 first-round pick who signed a 3-year, $36.75 million contract extension in 2025 but is coming off the worst season of his career in 2025.

Lamar Jackson

The Ravens' starting quarterback who is in line for a contract extension.

Tyler Linderbaum

The Ravens' starting center who is also in line for a contract extension.

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What they’re saying

“I got the impression from my conversations that the Ravens plan to pick up the fifth-year option on 2023 first-round pick Zay Flowers, and that will put him in line to earn $27.298 million in 2027 after making $2.664 million in 2026. Rashod Bateman is coming off a down year but is guaranteed $6.5 million this year, and the Ravens seem inclined to give him another shot in the new offense they're installing under new coordinator Declan Doyle.”

— Dan Graziano, ESPN NFL reporter

What’s next

The Ravens will need to decide whether to pick up Zay Flowers' fifth-year option, locking him in through 2027, and determine if Rashod Bateman can bounce back in 2026 to justify his rising salary over the next few years.

The takeaway

The Ravens have important contract decisions to make with their star players, but securing Zay Flowers long-term appears to be a priority. Rashod Bateman faces a prove-it year in 2026 to show he deserves his escalating salary, or the team may need to move on from him.