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Browns head coach Todd Monken sees similarities between rookie KC Concepcion and Zay Flowers, highlighting their competitive mentality and preparation approach. Monken believes Concepcion can bring similar explosiveness to the team.
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Don't look now, Baltimore fans, but the Cleveland Browns believe they have found a young receiver capable of bringing some of the same explosiveness and mentality that made Zay Flowers one of the AFC North's premier offensive weapons.
Recently, Browns head coach Todd Monken openly discussed rookie wide receiver KC Concepcion and the similarities he sees between the former college standout and Flowers, whom Monken coached for three seasons in Baltimore.
“There are some traits that are similar to Zay,” Monken explained. “But I love when people spoke about KC, it reminded me of Zay in terms of how he practiced, what he brings in every day.”
Monken emphasized that the comparison extends beyond athletic ability alone. According to the veteran offensive coach, both players share a similar competitive mentality and daily approach to preparation, something that helped Flowers quickly develop into one of the NFL's most dangerous young receivers.
During Monken's time with the Baltimore Ravens, Flowers emerged as a centerpiece of the passing attack, producing at least 858 receiving yards in each of their three seasons together while earning back-to-back Pro Bowl selections after consecutive 1,000-yard campaigns. Flowers’ ability to create immediate separation, generate yards after the catch, and stress defenses horizontally and vertically has become one of his defining traits. Despite standing only 5-foot-9, his twitch, acceleration, and route-running precision consistently create clean throwing windows for quarterbacks.
The Browns believe Concepcion brings several of those same qualities.
Todd Monken notes that both players share similar competitive mentalities and approaches to practice, which contribute to their explosiveness on the field.
Todd Monken coached Zay Flowers for three seasons while he was with the Baltimore Ravens.
KC Concepcion is expected to bring explosiveness and a strong work ethic to the Browns, similar to what Zay Flowers contributed to the Ravens.
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General manager Andrew Berry also noted the similarities, adding that Concepcion offers additional size compared to Flowers, who is 5-foot-11.
“I do think there are some similarities in terms of movement skills and twitch,” Berry said. “If we get a player who’s comparable to Zay Flowers three years from now, we’ll be elated.”
A Swiss army knife at Texas A&M, Concepcion enters the NFL viewed as one of the better yards-after-catch receivers in his draft class, thanks to his smooth change of direction, burst in space, and ability to separate naturally from defensive backs. For Cleveland, the hope is that those traits eventually translate into a dynamic offensive weapon capable of creating matchup problems throughout the AFC North.
Of course, comparisons to Flowers also create significant expectations. The Ravens receiver has already established himself as one of the league's most productive young playmakers and continues ascending within Baltimore's offense alongside Lamar Jackson. Still, hearing both Monken and Berry voluntarily connect Concepcion's game and mentality to Flowers says a great deal about how highly Cleveland views its newest offensive weapon entering the 2026 season, and what Baltimore has for the future.
This article originally appeared on Ravens Wire: Browns hope rookie WR mirrors Ravens star Zay Flowers