The Baltimore Ravens selected wide receiver Rashod Bateman with the 27th overall pick in the 2021 NFL draft. He was regarded as one of the more well rounded players coming out of college, as well as one of the more polished collegiate wideouts.
Coming out of the University of Minnesota, Bateman caught 147 passes for 2,395 yards and 19 scores throughout his three years playing college football. It seemed like many teams were interested in drafting the young receiver, but instead he fell to Baltimore at No. 27, where they gladly scooped him up.
High expectations were set for Bateman from Day 1 with the Ravens. He was thought to be a great compliment to the Baltimore passing offense, and was expected to be a top weapon for quarterback Lamar Jackson. However, Bateman suffered a core muscle injury in the middle of training camp, costing him the entire preseason and the first five games of his NFL career.
Many were wondering when the debut of Bateman would happen, as core injuries can be tricky to recover from. He took the field for the first time in a Ravens uniform against the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 6 and then played in his second-career NFL game against the Cincinnati Bengals just one week later.
Through two games, Bateman has caught seven passes on 12 targets for 109 yards, averaging 15,6 yards per catch. All seven of his catches have gone for first downs, and he’s already finding a knack for making big plays at the NFL level.
Bateman is already showing some of the key attributes that made him so successful in college, including silky smooth route running, separation ability, and his ability to track the football. While he did have one key drop that led to a Jackson interception against Los Angeles, the returns have been extremely positive for the rookie so far.
The former University of Minnesota star also has great positional versatility, which allows him to play both on the outside and in the slot. His 6-foot-1, 193 pound frame might seem a bit thin and easy to push around, but Bateman does a great job at winning at the line of scrimmage and getting open with ease.
With Bateman now in the Baltimore offense, Jackson now has a plethora of weapons to throw the football to, including wide receivers Marquise Brown and Sammy Watkins, tight end Mark Andrews, as well as others. As Bateman continues to play at the NFL and grow with his teammates, he should be able to make an impact for years to come. After all, through just two games he’s shown that he is the real deal.