The Baltimore Ravens finally invested in helping Lamar Jackson with the first-round selection of former Minnesota Golden Gophers wide receiver Rashod Bateman, and this pick could pay dividends for the Ravens. The Ravens have been needing some receiving help for Jackson, and Bateman is a great addition to the team to do just that.
Bateman excelled in college for Minnesota, which made him a top candidate to be drafted in the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft. He has excellent hands, great size, and runs pristine routes. Bateman’s ability to run the entire route tree, and run it well, could give him a starting job right from the get go in Baltimore.
During his standout career with the Golden Gophers, Bateman racked up 147 receptions for 2,395 yards and 19 touchdowns in three years. He has received some criticism for his consistency, but the Ravens obviously are not that concerned about it.
Standing in at 6-foot-2 and 210 pounds, Bateman has the size and athleticism to be a top target for the Ravens very early on in his NFL career. NFL.com has compared him to Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Michael Gallup, which is a very intriguing comparison for the rookie wideout.
Jackson has needed a receiver of Bateman’s caliber, and the two will certainly see a lot of success in Baltimore going forward. The Ravens have struggled in the playoffs due in large part to their lack of receiving depth, but the arrival of Bateman could change that narrative moving forward.
Rashod Bateman is going to be in the mix to shatter some rookie receiving records for the Ravens because he will likely be the number one receiver and getting a ton of playing time straight out of the gate. I wouldn’t be surprised if Bateman makes the Pro Bowl for the Ravens and represents his squad in the All-Star game hosted every season. He is going to have a major impact on the Baltimore Ravens moving forward.
For his rookie season in Baltimore, we are predicting that Bateman will catch 65 passes for 1,050 yards and eight touchdowns. It may not be enough to get him into the Pro Bowl, but the production will be impressive nonetheless. Bateman and Marquise “Hollywood” Brown are a young duo that will be very fun to watch moving forward.
