Zay Flowers DRAFT PROFILE – 2023 NFL DRAFT

Zay Flowers NFL DRAFT SCOUTING REPORT INTRODUCTION

Zay Flowers, a wide receiver from University High School, a 3-star recruit. Following his high school career, Flowers made the decision to join the football program at Boston College.

In his first year as a freshman in 2019, Flowers saw significant playing time, appearing in 13 games for the Boston College Eagles. Throughout the course of the season, he demonstrated an impressive level of skill, making 22 receptions for a total of 341 receiving yards with an average of 15.5 yards per reception. Additionally, Flowers recorded 3 receiving touchdowns and boasted a noteworthy quarterback rating of 114.0 when targeted by his teammates.

The following year, Flowers continued to make strides in his football career. As a sophomore in 2020, he played in 10 games and recorded 48 catches for a total of 835 yards with an average of 17.4 yards per catch. Flowers also showed great prowess in the end zone, scoring 9 touchdowns throughout the season. Notably, his quarterback rating when targeted was an impressive 103.5.

During his junior year in 2021, Flowers once again demonstrated his skill on the football field. Playing in 12 games, he hauled in 44 catches for a remarkable 746 yards with an average of 17.0 yards per catch. Although he recorded 5 touchdowns, his quarterback rating when targeted was a solid 84.7.

In his final year as a senior in 2022, Flowers solidified his status as a football star. Playing in 12 games, he made an outstanding 78 catches for a total of 1077 yards with an average of 13.8 yards per catch. He also set an impressive 12 touchdowns, cementing his status as a leading scorer on the Boston College team. Flowers’ quarterback rating when targeted was also impressive at 106.1.

Overall, Zay Flowers’ football career has been marked by steady improvement and impressive achievements on the field. His remarkable talent and dedication to the sport have undoubtedly made him a valuable asset to the Boston College football program.

Zay Flowers DRAFT PROFILE

Zay Flowers was a standout wide receiver at Boston College, and his impact on the team’s offense continued to increase throughout his college career. In 2022, he had the best season of his college career, posting career highs in receptions, yards, touchdowns, and yards after the catch. Flowers’ versatility made him a valuable asset to the team, with the ability to play both inside and outside positions.

Throughout his college career, Flowers improved his ability to track the football while it was in the air, making him far more competitive at the catch point. In the 2022 season, he reeled in an impressive 50% of contested catch targets. His speed and tempo when attacking the defender’s leverage made him an outstanding offensive threat. Once he had the ball in his hands, he proved to be an explosive and dynamic player capable of generating big plays.

 

Zay Flowers 40 YARD DASH- 4.34 SECONDS

Zay Flowers NFL DRAFT PLAYER COMPARISON- Travis Benjamin

 

SCOUTING REPORT- STRENGTHS

Zay Flowers is a talented and dynamic football player, with a unique set of skills that make him a valuable asset to his team. One of his greatest strengths is his ability to navigate the open field with speed and agility, making him extremely dangerous to opposing defenses. His vision and creativity are second to none, allowing him to run through entire defenses and make plays that few others can.

In addition to his speed, Flowers also possesses elite balance, enabling him to tight-rope the sideline and move in and out of his breaks with ease. His start-stop ability and burst are impressive, allowing him to change direction quickly and evade would-be tacklers.

Flowers is frequently put in catch-and-run situations, and he shows excellent vision with the ability to make tacklers miss in space. His competitive spirit and downfield blocking skills make him an asset in all phases of the game.

Despite his size of just 182 pounds, Flowers is not limited to playing in the slot; he played the majority of his snaps outside, a remarkable accomplishment for a player of his stature. He is also an excellent ball tracker, making it easier for his quarterback to drop in a throw with enough room on the sideline. His suddenness and lightning footwork allow him to create in tight areas with elusive shiftiness and change-of-direction skills.

While Flowers’ hands are generally very good, he must work on accepting the ball fluidly on all throws to make an impact in the NFL. He has demonstrated his ability to make catches in traffic, going up over taller defenders with his impressive vertical jump and toughness.

Overall, Zay Flowers is a unique and versatile football player whose size does not limit his ability to contribute to his team’s success. His speed, agility, balance, and vision make him a formidable opponent on the field, and his competitive spirit and downfield blocking skills demonstrate his commitment to the game.

His rare combination of skills and abilities will make him an attractive prospect for NFL teams, and he has the potential to develop into a dynamic and impactful player at the next level. He is a home run threat on every play.

SCOUTING REPORT- WEAKNESSES

Flowers’ smaller frame and catch radius limited the opportunities that a quarterback could trust him with in regard to targets. He struggled with drops throughout his career, with a total of 24 drops charged against him, resulting in an 11% drop rate. As we have seen, dropping passes is not tolerated in the NFL, and Flowers needed to prove his reliability to an NFL coaching staff.

Flowers faced a high amount of off-coverage and free releases, which raised questions about his release package. He faced a lot of off the ball zone coverage, where he could he could take advantage of his athleticism to quickly get into his routes without resistance.

His size may force him into a slot-only role in the NFL, which would limit his potential to contribute to his team’s offense. Expect teams to force him inside and body him to redirect his routes.

Zay Flowers NFL DRAFT SUMMARY

Looking to the next level, Flowers’ lack of height and weight may be of some concern for teams, who may view him as a slot-only receiver. However, his overall skill set and package were enticing, and his versatility made him an attractive prospect for NFL coordinators. In his first year in the NFL, the team’s plan for Flowers should revolve around pre-snap motion, manufactured touches in space, and quick-hitting routes with run-after-catch opportunities.

With a few seasons in the league, Flowers had the potential to develop into an impactful and dynamic chain-mover for his offense. However, his success in the NFL would depend on his ability to improve his drops and prove his reliability to his team’s coaching staff.

Plus Side:

• Blazing speed and outstanding athleticism; jet sweeps will certainly be in his NFL future
• Played outside and in the slot at BC over four years
• Big play possibility on every down

Negatives:

• Lacking size; small catch radius
• Drops have been an issue
• How will he fare against physical defenders?

It seems like he will almost certainly be a first round selection, but he may drop to early in the second round. His name has been one flying up draft boards recently. We have him ranked 34th overall and the 5th ranked receiver.