Besides the Patriots looking to keep their superstar cornerback around for a long time and have been teasing the fans about an extension for the past few months, the Ravens are dealing with the same thing, just with a wide receiver. Zay Flowers has become an integral part of the offensive game plan, and he's now eligible for a new contract this offseason, though no agreement has been reached yet.
It's a situation the Patriots should closely monitor, particularly around the May 1 deadline for picking up fifth-year options. That is reportedly going to be the Ravens' next best move if extension negotiations come to an impasse, putting Flowers on the books for $27.3 million for the 2026 season.
That means he becomes a free agent in 2028 but could demand a trade next year if a contract isn't agreed upon, and because he was a player Patriots fans were hoping Bill Belichick would trade back into the first round for in 2023, especially since he was a hometown hero at Boston College, there are plenty of reasons for Mike Vrabel and Co. to keep him on the shortlist of names to seriously pursue.
It would certainly be a dream scenario, and maybe it never comes to fruition, which sounds like something Flowers doesn't want. However, throughout NFL history, no player is immune to being let go, no matter how much they say they want to stay.
The Patriots need to keep a close eye on the contract negotiations between the Ravens and Zay Flowers
While speaking to reporters earlier this month, Flowers congratulated fellow 2023 draftee Jaxon Smith-Njigba for resetting the wide receiver market with a four-year, $168.6 million contract.
That, of course, brought him to discuss his ongoing extension talks, which he emphasized he's letting his agents handle, but he does want to remain with the Ravens for the long haul, stating he doesn't want to go anywhere else.
Now, maybe it's just a pipedream for Patriots fans to believe there's a legitimate chance Flowers makes it to free agency in 2028 or even be traded next year if a deal can't be reached, and considering any scenario of him going to New England is too far-fetched and a waste of time. In a lot of ways, it's hard to argue against that.
However, we've seen time and time again teams unwilling to give their superstar players the contract they deserve and have worked hard for, either trading them before they leave for nothing or watching them sign elsewhere in free agency. So the possibility of that happening with Flowers isn't entirely out of the question.
The 23-year-old could be fine playing on his fifth-year option next year, and that gives them more time to reach a deal on an extension, which will almost certainly happen if a contract isn't signed in the next few weeks.
But if negotiations go left, he could demand a trade, similar to what could happen with the Cowboys and George Pickens.
Regardless, it's something for the Patriots to monitor, as they should be all over a trade for Flowers, who has recorded back-to-back seasons of 1,000+ receiving yards and voted into the Pro Bowl for his performance. He could be exactly what Drake Maye needs in the receiving corps, on top of being a Boston legend that would make him an immediate fan favorite.
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