The Baltimore Ravens have officially started training camp and one prominent playmaker is already making headlines. Former first-round pick Rashod Bateman did not show up for training camp, and it shouldn’t surprise anyone if this ends up resulting in a trade.
It’s safe to say that Rashod Bateman and the Baltimore Ravens aren’t exactly on the best of terms right now. The wide receiver publicly called out general manager Eric DeCosta for some negative comments on Baltimore’s playmakers, and it’s no secret that Bateman blames a portion of his injury woes on the Ravens’ league-worst strength coaches.
With Odell Beckham and Zay Flowers on the roster, it stands to reason that the Ravens would part ways with Rashod Bateman for the right price, the only question is which teams would take a gamble and trade for the former first-round pick?
Rashod Bateman is HIM pic.twitter.com/MCFHdyo4Cq
— Billy M (@BillyM_91) September 18, 2022
5 Teams That Could Trade For Rashod Bateman
Carolina Panthers
Now that DeAndre Hopkins is with the Tennessee Titans, the Carolina Panthers have no competition for the worst wide receiver room in football. Carolina desperately needs first-overall pick Bryce Young to turn into a franchise quarterback, but he’ll have a hard time reaching his ceiling with an age-33 Adam Thielen, D.J. Chark, and Terrace Marshall as his top options. Rashod Bateman has flashed the ability to be a solid WR1, and if he can stay healthy, a trade should benefit both teams.
New York Giants
The New York Giants made their long-awaited return to the playoffs in 2022 with first-year head coach Brian Daboll leading the charge. Now, it’s time to build on that success and create an offense that can compete with the NFC’s elite teams. You can get by with Darius Slayton, Isaiah Hodgins, Parris Campbell, and Wan’Dale Robinson as your primary pass catchers, but none of these players offer too much upside. Rashod Bateman is anything from a guaranteed superstar, but he has a lot of untapped potential.
Green Bay Packers
With Aaron Rodgers in New York, the Green Bay Packers are embracing the youth movement with one of the youngest offenses in the league. While Christian Watson and Romeo Doubs both showed some promise as rookies, the entire roster would benefit from executing a Rashod Bateman trade. Entering his age-24 season, this high-upside trio could be under team control for years to come.
New Orleans Saints
Chris Olave is a superstar in the making, but the rest of the depth chart has a lot of question marks. On paper, Michael Thomas is an elite second option, but the wide receiver hasn’t stayed healthy since 2019. Rashid Shaheed played well in small doses last year, but can he maintain that performance with a bigger workload? Teams need more than one receiving option to compete in today’s pass-heavy NFL, and trading for Rashod Bateman might be the best way to get another promising pass-catcher.
Kansas City Chiefs
There is no need to describe how much the Kansas City Chiefs need another receiver. Aside from Travis Kelce, the reigning Super Bowl champions do not have a proven option capable of consistently hauling in passes from an all-time great quarterback in Patrick Mahomes. However, would the Ravens ever trade Rashod Bateman to the kings of the AFC? Unless Kansas City blows them away with a ridiculous offer, the answer is probably no.
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Main Photo: Brian Fluharty – USA Today Sports
