The Baltimore Ravens selected wide receiver Rashod Bateman with the 27th overall pick in the 2021 NFL draft. Baltimore drafted Bateman intending to bolster a lackluster receiving core. When healthy, Bateman has shown signs of being a viable piece to the Ravens offense. Bateman has been a fantastic receiver since he started playing football. As a senior in high school, Bateman set school single-season receiving records with 83 catches for 1,539 yards and 21 TDs, earning first-team All-State honors. Bateman then attended the University of Minnesota where he played for three seasons. At Minnesota, Bateman was an all-time standout receiver. In three years, Bateman recorded 147 receptions for 2,395 yards; Both of which are the sixth-highest career totals in Minnesota school history. Bateman also posted 19 total touchdowns, which was the fifth most in school history.
Adding to his resume, Bateman posted 10 100-yard receiving games, which stands as the fourth-most in team history. As a sophomore in 2019, Bateman finished as a Biletnikoff Award finalist for the nation’s best wide receiver and posted 11 receiving touchdowns, marking a sophomore record. In Baltimore, Bateman has been a consistent pass catcher when he’s on the field. Expectations will be low for the receiver this year but if all goes well, Rashod Bateman can be the glue to the Ravens offense.
Rashod Bateman Can Be Glue to the Ravens Offense
Rashod Bateman has proven to be a spark for the Baltimore Ravens since being drafted. Unfortunately, Bateman has not been able to stay healthy for a full season. In Bateman’s rookie season in 2021, he missed the first five games due to a groin injury. Upon returning, Baltimore was reminded why Bateman was drafted in the first round. In Bateman’s rookie season, he posted 515 yards and one touchdown in 12 games. If Bateman played in all 17 games, it’s safe to say he would have posted close to 1,000 receiving yards. Bateman’s standout performance of the season was a week 14 103-yard receiving outing against the Cleveland Browns, opening the eyes of fans and teammates. As a rookie, Bateman posted 42.9 receiving yards per game. That ranks as second on the Ravens’ all-time rookie list, only behind Torrey Smith who posted a 52.6 yards per game average in 2011.
Bateman’s second season would see injury problems follow. In 2022, Bateman was limited to only six games before being placed on injured reserve with a foot injury that ended his season. In Bateman’s second season, he posted 285 receiving yards and two touchdowns. Bateman was quick off the blocks in 2022, posting a 108-yard performance in week two against the Miami Dolphins. The performance included a 75-yard touchdown reception that showed his deep-threat abilities. In week one against the New York Jets, Bateman also scored a 50-yard touchdown, becoming the first Raven in franchise history to post a touchdown reception of that distance in each of the team’s first two games of a season. Injuries are the only thing that has consistently held the Ravens back. Lamar Jackson, J.K. Dobbins, and Bateman have all missed a significant amount of time over the last two seasons, resulting in shortcomings. With additions such as Odell Beckham Jr and Nelson Agholor, Bateman can be the glue that holds it all together.
Bateman is back ‼️@Lj_era8 ➡️ @R_bateman2 | @Hyundai pic.twitter.com/5s5dCcKNxp
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) August 19, 2023
Main Photo: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
