The Baltimore Ravens selected wide receiver Rashod Bateman out of Minnesota at No. 27 overall in the 2021 NFL Draft.
Baltimore was hoping to add another weapon for quarterback Lamar Jackson early in the draft despite also signing wideout Sammy Watkins in free agency. Bateman should see significant snaps early in his NFL career alongside Watkins and Marquise Brown.
The Ravens' passing attack ranked 32nd last season, averaging 171.2 yards per game through the air.
Draft profile
Key stats (5 games): 36 receptions, 472 yards, 2 TDs, 13.1 YPC
One of the easiest prospects to evaluate in the 2021 receiver class, Bateman offers a plethora of transferable skills that will surely make him successful. He's explosive, creates after the catch, is a polished route-runner, and the pass-catcher produced in every offensive alignment with the Golden Gophers. Bateman is as smooth as it gets, and he's strong enough to win with physicality despite not possessing elite size. While a few drops show up on tape and he'll never be a top-tier NFL athlete, it's easy to love Bateman's game because of his tools.
