The upcoming NFL season promises to showcase a markedly different, more polished version of Lamar Jackson, according to his Baltimore Ravens teammate Zay Flowers. After a disappointing 2023 campaign that saw the Ravens miss the playoffs for the first time since 2021, the franchise is eager for a turnaround. The team finished 8-9, capped by a crushing defeat to the Pittsburgh Steelers in the final week that handed the AFC North crown to their rivals.
Jackson, a two‑time MVP, endured an injury‑marred year that forced him to miss four games. The Ravens stumbled out of the gate with a 1‑5 start, leaving them perpetually playing catch‑up.
Even when he returned to the field, his performance never quite reached the electrifying, game‑breaking heights that defined his early years. Yet analysts and insiders alike predict that the quarterback will return stronger than ever as Baltimore sets its sights on a Super Bowl run this September. "They’re going to see a different version this year," Flowers told Sky Sports.
"Under a new system, he gets a fresh start. He’s going to be healthy. He’s going to take care of himself, everything. You’re going to see a new version of everybody, if I’m being honest.
Soon, real soon, everybody. Real soon." Flowers has emerged as Jackson’s most reliable target, leading the Ravens with 86 receptions for 1,211 yards and five touchdowns last season. His confidence in the quarterback’s potential is palpable, and he believes the upcoming season will be a turning point for both players and the organization.
Jackson’s 2023 statistics illustrate a mixed picture. He completed 192 of 302 passes – a 63.6 percent completion rate – for 2,549 yards, 21 touchdowns and seven interceptions.
On the ground, however, he recorded a career‑low 349 rushing yards, a stark contrast to the more than 1,000 yards he has typically produced each year. Despite the dip in rushing production, Jackson remains one of the league’s most recognizable faces and a central figure in the ongoing Super Bowl conversation.
He has long dispelled pre‑draft doubts to become one of football’s most versatile and dynamic playmakers. "He stayed true to himself.
He doesn’t change for anybody," Flowers said, describing what makes Jackson special. "He doesn’t change for anything going on in his life. He’s always going to be him and you can count on that.
Consistency, being yourself, confidence, and putting God first – that’s a formula that always wins. That’s what he has." For Flowers, the past three years have been a master class in adapting to Jackson’s unique skill set. Younger teammates, such as second‑year wide receiver LaJohntay Wester, are still in awe of the quarterback’s improvisational brilliance. "It’s crazy," Wester remarked.
"Some of the things he does are just unreal. I saw him scramble last year in practice and put the ball behind his back like he was playing basketball. Quarterback coaches usually tell them that’s a no‑no, but it’s Lamar Jackson – it’s Lamarvelous. Seeing him do that every day, pulling off the moves you see on Sundays during the week in practice, it’s just him being himself." The offseason brought significant change to the Ravens’ coaching staff.
After 18 seasons at the helm, longtime head coach John Harbaugh departed, and former Los Angeles Chargers defensive coordinator Jesse Minter was hired as his replacement. The shift in leadership has injected fresh energy into the locker room.
"It’s a new opportunity for everybody," Flowers explained. "Players who didn’t get a chance to prove themselves under Coach Harbaugh now have a fresh slate with Coach Minter. You can feel that energy in the room.
He brings enthusiasm, and everyone wants to play. We’re all excited to start anew and chase the same goal – a Super Bowl." Both Flowers and Wester echoed the sentiment, noting that the new coaching regime has revitalized the team’s morale. Wester added, "Coach Minter is bringing a new energy into the building. That’s something the Ravens were missing last year, and we have it now.
Everybody is on board, and we have a solid plan." Historically, the Ravens have been close but not quite there. Since 2019, they have fallen in the Divisional Round three times and suffered an AFC Championship loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in the 2023 postseason.
Nevertheless, the franchise remains a formidable contender in a fiercely competitive AFC that has been dominated by the Chiefs for several seasons. With a talented roster and a quarterback eager to reclaim his elite status, the Ravens are poised to re‑enter the championship conversation in 2026. Flowers summed up the competitive atmosphere: "If you look around, you see Derrick Henry, then you look to your right and see Lamar Jackson, and you think, ‘I have to grind, I have to bring my best.’ It only makes you better when you’re surrounded by great players.
It pushes you to be the best version of yourself." For younger players like Wester, the upcoming season represents a chance to carve out a larger role. Drafted in the sixth round out of Colorado, he spent most of his rookie year returning kicks, but the new environment could open doors. "I’m a young guy, so seeing guys like Zay, Derrick Henry, Lamar every day going hard makes me want to work even harder to impress them," Wester said. "These guys are legends in my city.
Being around them means you can’t afford to mess up – you have to be on point and have your ducks in a row." In summary, the Ravens are entering the new NFL season with a revitalized quarterback, a fresh coaching philosophy, and a roster hungry for success. If Jackson can stay healthy, embrace the new system, and combine his innate creativity with disciplined preparation, Baltimore could very well witness the best Lamar Jackson yet – a version that not only dazzles but also consistently leads the team deep into the playoffs, with a Super Bowl appearance as the ultimate goal.