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Rashod Bateman speaks out on Ravens, Lamar Jackson

The Baltimore Ravens knew that they needed to go into the 2021 NFL Draft looking for a legitimate weapon for star quarterback Lamar Jackson. Marquise “Hollywood” Brown is a great player, but they needed more firepower. That is exactly what they were able to find by taking Minnesota wide receiver Rashod Bateman with the No. 27 overall pick in the first round of the draft.

Bateman was one of the most underrated wide receivers in the entire draft class. He has legitimate star potential and is a perfect scheme fit for the Ravens’ offense. This pick will end up being a major win for Baltimore.

Following the team’s decision to take him with their first-round pick, Bateman spoke out about playing with Jackson.

“I look up to Lamar (Jackson) a lot. I’m excited to get to work with him.”

It’s a short and sweet quote, but one that should excite Ravens fans. Bateman and Jackson are going to work hard together and he should be able to come in and make an immediate impact as a starter. He is obviously a big fan of Jackson, which will make the working relationship even more natural and easy.

During his three-year career with the Golden Gophers in college, Bateman racked up 147 receptions for 2,395 yards and 19 touchdowns. He has received comparisons to current Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Michael Gallup. If that comparison comes true, then the Ravens are going to extremely happy with their decision to take him at No. 27.

Standing in at 6-foot-2 and 210 pounds, Bateman is exactly the kind of receiver the Ravens needed. They have their speedster in Brown, but they needed a bigger target who could become a top-notch possession wideout.

Needless to say, it will be interesting to see what kind of impact Rashod Bateman can make in his rookie season. Over the last couple of years, the Ravens were legitimate contenders in the AFC, but came up short in disappointing fashion in the playoffs. Perhaps the boost from drafting a wideout like Bateman can help them become more dangerous.

Expect to see Bateman and Jackson form great chemistry very quickly and work well together this season. This is exactly what the Ravens needed to do in the first round and they should be very excited about the future for their offense.

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