The Baltimore Ravens had no interest in losing receiver Rashod Bateman to the Green Bay Packers during the first round of the 2021 NFL draft.
The Ravens held two first-round picks – at No. 27 and No. 31 – but waiting to take Bateman with the second pick wasn’t an option because the team was fearful of the Packers selecting him at No. 29 overall.
Ravens director of player personnel Joe Hortiz explained the team’s thinking to Jamison Hensley of ESPN.
“Certainly, we knew [the Packers] liked him and a lot of teams like Rashod,” Hortiz said. “We don’t know for certain, but you do try to pay attention to, ‘OK, the GMs were at this pro day’ – especially this year because the GMs weren’t able to get out and see players. Brian (Gutekunst) is going to look at players that he was interested in.”
The Ravens took Bateman at No. 27 overall, two picks before the Packers selected Georgia cornerback Eric Stokes.
Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst was in attendance for Minnesota’s pro day during the pre-draft process and he spoke with Bateman during the event. The Ravens simply connected the dots on the Packers’ interest in the star receiver.
It’s unclear if Gutekunst would have selected Bateman over Stokes, a highly athletic player from the SEC who fills an immediate and long-term need at cornerback.
While Bateman is a more traditional receiver, the Packers eventually ended up trading up to get Amari Rodgers, a slot receiver type, in the third round.
The Packers were also reportedly interested in receiver Kadarius Toney, but the Giants took him at No. 20 overall. For the second straight year, teams picking in front of Gutekunst and the Packers snagged receivers in the first round that could have landed in Green Bay if available. Last year, the Packers had their eyes on Justin Jefferson and Brandon Aiyuk.