RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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0 Share Newsweek is a Trust Project member See more of our trusted coverage when you search. Prefer Newsweek on Google to see more of our trusted coverage when you search. The Baltimore Ravens locked up star wide receiver Zay Flowers to a new four-year, $140 million deal on Tuesday. That makes him among the highest-paid wideouts in the NFL , with a $35 million annual average salary that ties him for the fourth-most in the league alongside Justin Jefferson.
But early in Ravens training camp, it's another young receiver making headlines: third-round rookie Ja'Kobi Lane. During team drills on Tuesday, Lane made a one-handed, sideline catch that caught everybody's attention — reaching back to snag Lamar Jackson's 20-yard pass while falling backward to the ground.
Take a look at the highlight play below.
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Speaking about the catch after practice, Ravens head coach Jesse Minter raved about the rookie receiver .
"That was a great play by Ja'Kobi," Minter said. "He's continued to flash and make those type of plays. As [for] anybody, you're always searching for consistency down after down. Again, the more he shows Lamar that he's making those types of plays, the more trust they build, and that's really what training camp and what practice is all about."
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Lane, a 6-foot-4, 200-pound receiver out of USC, is coming off a strong three-year college career with the Trojans. After seeing limited opportunity as a freshman, he broke out in 2024, finishing with 525 yards and 12 touchdowns on 43 catches, averaging 12.2 yards per catch. Last season, he took another step forward, finishing with 745 yards and four touchdowns on 49 catches, averaging 15.2 yards per catch and earning third-team All-Big Ten honors.
Despite being widely projected as a fourth- or fifth-round selection, the Ravens felt confident enough to take him in the third round (No. 80 overall). So far through training camp, he's justified the investment.
Behind Flowers, Baltimore's receiving room is unsettled. The Ravens still have veteran Rashod Bateman and third-year wideout Devontez Walker, both of whom have had their moments with Lamar Jackson, but that No. 2 spot next to Flowers is up for grabs. If Lane keeps performing like this, he could immediately emerge as a lethal red-zone threat for the Ravens in 2026.
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