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KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Boston College wide receiver Zay Flowers was selected with the 22nd overall pick in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft by the Baltimore Ravens on Thursday night, becoming the 22nd first-round pick in school history. Flowers became the first BC receiver drafted since 1987 and the first skill position player taken in the first round since 2008.
After opting to return for his senior season in 2022, Flowers rewrote the Boston College record book as the all-time leader in career and single-season receptions, receiving yards, and receiving touchdowns. As a first-team All-ACC receiver and third-team AP All-American, he hauled in 78 catches for 1,077 yards and 12 touchdowns. Flowers finished the season with five 100-yard games, including two 10-reception games. A semifinalist for the Biletnikoff Award, he was one of three receivers in the country with three or more games of 100 yards and two touchdowns and was one of four receivers in the country with four or more touchdown receptions of 50-plus yards.
For his career, Flowers leaves BC as the Eagles all-time leader with 200 receptions, 3,056 receiving yards, and 29 receiving touchdowns. He added 345 yards on the ground, averaging 6.1 yards per carry, and two touchdowns.
A three-time All-ACC selection, Flowers earned first-team honors in 2020 and 2022 as well as a third-team honor in 2021. He became the sixth three-time All-ACC pick at BC and third in the last two years as well as the sixth two-time first-team selection and second in as many years.
Flowers became the first Eagle wide receiver selected in the NFL Draft since Kelvin Martin was taken in the fourth round by the Dallas Cowboys in 1987. He was the first skill position played from BC to go in the first round since quarterback Matt Ryan went to the Atlanta Falcons in 2008.
Originally a three-star recruit from Florida, Flowers is the second first-round pick during the tenure of head coach Jeff Hafley. Following Zion Johnson’s first-round selection to the Los Angeles Chargers a year ago, the Eagles have first-round picks in back-to-back years for the first time since Anthony Castonzo (2011) and Luke Kuechly (2012) and the fourth since the draft’s inception.
Flowers is the first Eagle to be drafted by the Ravens in the first round and is the 222nd player in Boston College history to be selected in the NFL or AFL Draft. Since 1980, BC has had at least one player drafted in 41 of 43 drafts.
Boston College First-Round NFL Draft Picks
| Player | Pos. | Year (Pick) | Team |
| Zay Flowers | WR | 2023 (22) | Baltimore |
| Zion Johnson | OL | 2022 (17) | LA Chargers |
| Chris Lindstrom | OL | 2019 (14) | Atlanta |
| Luke Kuechly | LB | 2012 (9) | Carolina |
| Anthony Castonzo | OL | 2011 (22) | Indianapolis |
| B.J. Raji | DL | 2009 (9) | Green Bay |
| Matt Ryan | QB | 2008 (3) | Atlanta |
| Gosder Cherilus | OL | 2008 (17) | Detroit |
| Mathias Kiwanuka | DL | 2006 (32) | NY Giants |
| William Green | RB | 2002 (16) | Cleveland |
| Marc Colombo | OL | 2002 (29) | Dallas |
| Chris Hovan | DL | 2000 (25) | Minnesota |
| Damien Woody | OL | 1999 (17) | New England |
| Pete Kendall | OL | 1996 (21) | Seattle |
| Mike Mamula | LB | 1995 (7) | Philadelphia |
| Joe Wolf | OL | 1989 (17) | Phoenix |
| John Bosa | DL | 1987 (16) | Miami |
| Steve Schindler | OL | 1977 (18) | Denver |
| Bill Thomas | RB | 1972 (26) | Dallas |
| Bob Hyland | Ol | 1967 (9) | Green Bay |
| Don Allard | QB | 1959 (4) | Washington |
| Mike Holovak | B | 1943 (5) | LA Rams |
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