The Baltimore Ravens currently stand at 3-1 on the 2020 season and are just starting to get into the swing of things. After a successful offseason that included a phenomenal 2020 NFL Draft class, the Ravens have plenty of depth at almost every position. But looking ahead to next offseason, Baltimore could certainly upgrade in certain areas.
Luke Easterling of Draft Wire put together a 2021 mock draft based on how each team has looked through the first quarter of the 2020 season. The Ravens would currently own the 24th pick, and Easterling has Baltimore selecting Minnesota wide receiver Rashod Bateman with their selection.
The Ravens haven’t been getting a lot of contributions from their wide receivers so far during the 2020 season, so the pick of Bateman makes sense. Marquise Brown currently leads the team with 242 receiving yards, but the next closest receiver to him is Willie Snead who only has 117 yards. Bateman would provide an immediate upgrade and give Baltimore another threat on offense.
Bateman has produced big numbers ever since arriving at the University of Minnesota. In his first season, he showed his potential by putting up 706 receiving yards and six touchdowns catches. Then last season he turned it up a notch, recording 1,219 receiving yards and 11 scores while averaging 20.3 yards per catch. That kind of production would certainly be welcomed in Baltimore’s offense.
Bateman stands at 6-foot-2, 210 pounds, and has excellent ball skills. He can run after the catch effectively and is dangerous in space. He also catches contested balls with ease, something that would help Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson out tremendously as it would extend his throwing window when throwing to Bateman. There are some concerns about Bateman’s explosiveness, but with the talent he has, teams will probably be able to overlook any issues in the second half of the first round.
With the coronavirus pandemic wreaking havoc on the world, in August Bateman decided to opt-out of the 2020 college football season. However, after the Big Ten Conference announced that it would be playing football, he decided to opt back in and play. He will play his first game on October 24th as the Golden Gophers take on the University of Michigan Wolverines. Bateman will hope to continue to increase his draft stock and build off of the strong seasons he’s had over the last two years.
Even though Baltimore has talented young receivers in Brown, Miles Boykin, Devin Duvernay, and James Proche, Bateman would be a welcome addition to the Ravens’ offense. His contested catch ability alongside his big-play ability would make Baltimore’s offense extremely lethal. However, if he has another strong season, the Ravens would have to wonder if he’ll even be available when they pick. If he is, it’d be a no-brainer to select the Golden Gopher.
