The Green Bay Packers will enter the 2021 NFL draft hoping to find a few more valuable pieces to add to an otherwise talented roster after winning 26 regular-season games and making the NFC Championship Game in back-to-back seasons under coach Matt LaFleur.
Between now and the draft, Packers Wire will periodically break down one top prospect capable of landing in Green Bay later this month.
Up next is Minnesota receiver Rashod Bateman:
What he can do
– Hands catcher. Every time. Quarterbacks love receivers that pluck the ball with their hands and don’t let it get into their body. Increases confidence level and aiming window
– Incredible body control and hand-eye coordination when in the air and adjusting to the football. Tape is filled with spinning catches all over the field
– High concentration level on middle-of-field targets
– Cooks corners on slants from any spot on the field, particularly off of run-pass option concepts
– Well-refined route-runner overall. Can see the nuance and detail that goes into each route. And won’t be limited to a few routes early on, experienced in many pro-level concepts
– Made multiple one-handed, circus-like catches in traffic
– Can sell double moves and create big plays
– The great ones always have an innate feel for where they are on the field in relation to where the open pockets of space are or will be. He has this feel
– Displayed explosiveness and elusiveness after the catch, especially in slip screen opportunities. No wasted movement. Get it and go. Good at creating separation on underneath routes and then making the first man miss to create chunk plays
– Played all over Minnesota’s offense. Can operate outside or in the slot
– Hugely underrated vertical speed. Was always finding ways to get behind the coverage
– Produced dominant reps as a true freshman. Will only be 21 as a rookie
– Didn’t miss a game due to injury over three seasons. Team captain as a true sophomore
How he fits
It’s actually incredibly easy to envision Bateman in the Packers offense. The NFL’s best receiver – Davante Adams – has already created the blueprint for him. This isn’t necessarily comparing Bateman directly to Adams, although the similarities are there, but using the Golden Gopher star in the same ways the Packers already feature Adams could maximize his potential and production at the next level. Bateman is comfortable winning off the line from the perimeter, he’ll spin a slot defender in circles with a clean release from the inside, and he can make something happen after the catch on quick, safe underneath routes. Adding Bateman to this receiver group could give the Packers even more flexibility with Adams, who can win from anywhere but is especially deadly from the slot. And with the Packers in need of stability at receiver long-term, Bateman could be the ideal late first-round option for protecting against losing Adams after the 2021 season and ensuring the offense has a high-level and versatile “X” receiver well into the future.
NFL comp
A mix between Allen Robinson and Chris Godwin. Like with Robinson and Godwin, you get the nuanced route-running, positional versatility, underrated vertical speed, special body control, and the willingness to go make plays in the middle of the field from Bateman. It’s all there. His ceiling is high, especially with the right offense and quarterback.
Where Packers could get him
In the first round, either by trading up to select him or making him the pick at No. 29 overall. The odds of Bateman falling deep into the second round (the Packers hold the 62nd pick) look unlikely. It’s possible the Packers could get aggressive in moving up the board to get Bateman if he is Green Bay’s primary target in the first round.
Highlights
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hYcV6NjAzqQ
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