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, ceding the AFC North title to the Pittsburgh Steelers with a decisive loss in the final week.
Jackson, a two‑time MVP, missed four games due to injury and the Ravens stumbled out of the gate with a 1-5 start that forced them into catch‑up mode for the remainder of the year. Even when Jackson returned, his play never quite reached the electrifying, game‑breaking heights that defined his early years.
Nonetheless, analysts and insiders alike predict that he will emerge stronger this September as Baltimore re‑enters the Super Bowl conversation. "They’re going to see a different version this year," Flowers told Sky Sports, emphasizing that a new offensive system and a fully healthy Jackson will produce a fresh iteration of the quarterback’s skill set.
"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’ll see a new version of everybody, if I’m being honest. Soon, real soon, everybody. Real soon." Flowers has positioned himself as Jackson’s most reliable target, having led the Ravens with 86 receptions for 1,211 yards and five touchdowns last season. His confidence in the quarterback is evident in his comments about Jackson’s consistency and character.
"He stayed true to himself. He doesn’t change for anybody," Flowers said. "He’s always going to be him and you can count on that. Consistency, being yourself, having confidence, and putting God first – that’s a formula that always wins.
That’s what he has." Jackson’s statistical line from the previous year reflects both his passing efficiency and an uncharacteristic dip in his rushing production. He completed 192 of 302 attempts (a 63.6% completion rate) for 2,549 yards, 21 touchdowns and seven interceptions. His rushing totals fell to a career‑low 349 yards, a stark contrast to the more than 1,000 yards he has typically amassed each season. Despite the drop, Jackson remains one of the NFL’s most recognizable faces and a cornerstone of a roster that still boasts Super Bowl aspirations.
For younger teammates like second‑year wide receiver and return specialist LaJohntay Wester, witnessing Jackson’s improvisational brilliance is a daily lesson in creativity. "It’s crazy," Wester marveled. "I saw him scramble in practice last year and put the ball behind his back like he was playing basketball. Quarterback coaches tell you not to do that, but it’s Lamar Jackson – it’s Lamarvelous.
He does those things every day in practice, not just on Sundays." The offseason also brought a seismic shift in the coaching hierarchy. After 18 seasons at the helm, head coach John Harbaugh departed, and the Ravens hired former Los Angeles Chargers defensive coordinator Jesse Minter as his successor.
Flowers described the change as an infusion of new energy: "It’s a new opportunity for everybody. Those who didn’t get a chance to prove themselves under Coach Harbaugh now have a fresh start with Jesse Minter. You can feel that energy in the room.
He brings energy, everybody wants to play, and we’re all excited to push for the same goal – a Super Bowl." Wester echoed the sentiment, noting that the new staff has supplied the spark the team lacked in 2023. "I’m very excited. Coach Minter is bringing a new energy into the building. That’s something the Ravens missed last year, and we have it now.
Everybody is on board, and we have a solid plan." Historically, the Ravens have been perennial contenders, reaching the Divisional Round of the playoffs three times since 2019 and falling short in the AFC Championship Game to the Kansas City Chiefs at the close of the 2023 season. With a roster that includes star running back Derrick Henry, a dynamic receiving corps, and a defensive unit that has shown flashes of dominance, the team is positioned to re‑enter the AFC race once again in 2026.
Flowers summed up the competitive mindset: "If you look around, you see Derrick Henry, then you look to your right and see Lamar Jackson. It makes you want to grind, to put your best foot forward. Great players push you to be the best version of yourself." Wester, a sixth‑round pick from Colorado who primarily contributed as a return specialist last year, sees the upcoming season as a chance to expand his role. "I’m a young guy, and seeing guys like Zay, Derrick, Lamar work hard every day makes me want to work even harder to impress them," he 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." Looking ahead, the Ravens’ revamped coaching philosophy, Jackson’s anticipated health, and the collective hunger of a talented roster suggest that Baltimore could indeed present a "new version" of its star quarterback and, by extension, a revitalized team identity. The combination of fresh strategic ideas, renewed confidence, and the drive to prove themselves after a disappointing season may well propel the Ravens back into the championship conversation, with Jackson at the helm of this renewed offensive engine.