Ravens Draft Prospect Profile: Rashod Bateman

It’s no secret that the Baltimore Ravens have been looking for wide receiver help during the 2021 offseason. They were reported to be interested in both JuJu Smith-Schuster and T.Y. Hilton, but weren’t able to agree to terms with either. They then went out and signed former Kansas City Chiefs receiver Sammy Watkins, who should help on the outside along with bringing a veteran presence to the team.

Although adding Watkins is a great start, he most likely isn’t the singular missing piece that the team needs to compete for a Super Bowl. Baltimore will probably look to the draft to add another playmaker at wide receiver, and there are plenty available in the 2021 draft class that could make an immediate impact in a Ravens uniform.

One receiver that many have been clamoring for Baltimore to draft is Rashod Bateman. The University of Minnesota product was an extremely productive player during his three years for the Golden Gophers, catching 147 passes for 2,395 yards and 19 touchdowns, averaging 16.3 yards per catch. He was also extremely consistent, averaging 77.2 receiving yards per game across the 31 contests that he played in.

From a skillset perspective, Bateman brings exactly what the Ravens need. He’s a tactician as a route runner, dangerous in space, and excels at catching contested footballs. Baltimore needs a physical receiver, and Bateman would certainly bring that to their offense as well as shiftiness in the open field.

Listed at 6-foot-1, 190 pounds, Bateman is a bigger receiver who uses his size to his advantage. While he isn’t a speed demon, he still plays extremely fast within the flow of the game. He displays a good first step, and is someone that does everything well. He is a well-rounded prospect who will be a fantastic pick for any team that selects him.

The Ravens currently have plenty of receives on their roster who should be able to make an impact in 2021 between Watkins, Marquise Brown, Devin Duvernay and more. However, adding someone like Bateman would immediately make Baltimore’s offense better, as he would provide them with an outside threat while Brown, Duvernay, and even James Proche operate out of the slot. He would instantly give Lamar Jackson another dangerous weapon who can be used all around the football field.

There’s no guarantee that Bateman makes it to the Ravens’ first round selection, which is currently slated to be the 27th overall pick. If they decide to make a draft night move, Baltimore could look to trade up for him if they believe he’ll get taken before they are able to pick. If they can somehow get Bateman in black and purple, the Ravens’ offense would truly become a force to be reckoned with, not just because of their running game, but also because of their passing game.