2023 NFL Draft Profile: Wide Receiver Zay Flowers

We continue our series profiling some of the top prospects in the 2023 NFL Draft by looking at former Boston College wide receiver Zay Flowers.

We are getting closer to the 2023 NFL Draft. It is just over three weeks (April 27th) before the event begins.

In preparation for the draft, we are profiling some of the top prospects available. Next up is Boston College wide receiver Zay Flowers.

Flowers showed off his playmaking skills right from his freshman season. While he only had two starts, he was in 13 games. In limited action, he recorded 22 catches for 341 yards (15.5 yards per catch) and three touchdowns. Additionally, he added 27 carries for 195 yards (7.2 yards per run) and a touchdown on the ground.

In 2022, he set career marks with 78 receptions, 1,077 receiving yards (13.8 yards per catch) and tied for fifth in the FBS with 12 receiving touchdowns in 12 starts.

In addition to his wide receivers duties, Flowers also adds some help on the ground and on special teams as a punt returner.

Here is Flowers’ profile:

Strengths

Flowers is a slot receiver who is a bundle of energy. He does everything quickly. He has a high motor and it is on full speed all game long. Also, he does not lack any confidence.

Flowers uses his speed and athleticism to make it difficult for defenders to get a good read on him. He runs his route crisply and quickly. His quickness helps create separation from defenders.

Flowers can be used in the same way the San Francisco 49ers use Deebo Samuel. He can run out of the backfield, play the slot, and run sweeps. He is an elusive runner. He can take a screen pass, slip past defenders, and then outrun them. Like Samuel, the more touches you give Flowers, the better the results for the offense.

Areas of improvement

Flowers’ build is a concern for teams. We saw this with a player like Tarik Cohen of the Chicago Bears. He was 5-foot-6 and weighed 191 pounds. In comparison, Flowers is 5-foot-9 and weighs 182 pounds.

Cohen was more compact and was an electric player. However, he took one hit on a punt return and that was the end of his career. Flowers will also be an electric player but his ability to take hits is a big concern.

Additionally, Flowers has to improve his hands. He has way too many drops. In college, he had 24 drops at Boston College and had a drop rate of 11 percent. Moreover, it could be a problem when he is in a contested situation. It does not matter how electric he might be, if he cannot catch the ball he will not do the offense any favors.

While it is fun to see him run around like his hair is on fire, he needs to calm down a little. He sometimes rushes his routes and does not sell his moves too well. Furthermore, by rushing his route, he sometimes misses the holes in zone coverage.

Projection

Flowers is an electric player who will make big plays at the NFL level. His high energy will make him a fan favorite. However, he needs to improve his hands and sometimes slow things down.

Flowers could stand to gain some weight but will that then affect his quickness? That is for a team to find out. He could be a great option for an offense on the next level but his slight build might make his time in the NFL a short one.