The Baltimore Ravens gave Lamar Jackson a top weapon by selecting Minnesota wide receiver Rashod Bateman with the No. 27 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft.
Bateman was certainly productive at the collegiate level, tallying 147 receptions, 2,395 yards and 19 touchdowns in 31 games for the Golden Gophers. He is a sure-handed receiver who is able to make grabs in tight windows and consistently come down with the football.
He offers great footwork and a high football IQ as a route runner, altering his stems to attack leverage points in man coverage and exploit soft spots against zone. Bateman is also a quality athlete at the position who can stretch the field vertically pretty well if called upon to do so.
Though Baltimore has the likes of Marquise Brown and Sammy Watkins in their wide receiver room, they entered the draft without a bonafide No. 1 target. Bateman gives them a reliable, physical and intelligent boundary weapon who could grow into a massive role for their offense if he develops to his full potential.
