Pundit expects Rashod Bateman to be a ‘big focal point’ in Ravens passing game in 2024

For a first-round pick who has yet to meet expectations through three sesons, Baltimore Ravens’ fourth-year wideout Rashod Bateman has been getting hyped up quite a bit this offseason.

The 2021 first-rounder was recently named a “one guy to look out for” ahead of the 2024 season by NFL Network analyst Brian Baldinger as someone Lamar Jackson will be counting on to make plays.

“He was hurt and injured much of his first two years, got much healthier last year, and just watching him practice, like this guy is a tremendous route-runner, he’s got size, he hasn’t lost any speed whatsoever,” Baldinger said Tuesday on The Insiders. “I expect him to be a big focal point of this passing game with Lamar this season.”

Even though Bateman has only recorded 93 receptions on 152 targets for 1,167 receiving yards and four touchdowns since entering the league, injuries have limited him to appearing in 36 out of a possible 54 games. Nevertheless, the flashes of game-breaking potential he’s displayed have been incredible.

Bateman was off to a sizzling start to the 2022 season. He posted 226 receiving yards and two touchdowns on just eight receptions and 16 targets through the first three games before suffering a Lisfranc foot injury in Week 4. The significant setback would ultimately end his sophomore campaign and hinder his preparation for the 2023 season.

In a recent appearance on ‘The Lounge’ podcast, Bateman shared that he wasn’t sure if he’d be able to play last season, let alone practice leading up to training camp because of lingering issues with his foot not responding to the rehabilitation process.

“I wasn’t sure at all,” Batman said. “The foot would not heal. It would not get better. I would try to run routes and I just couldn’t even push off my left foot so I was freaking out and training camp was coming up.”

Knowing the negative backlash he’d face in the court of public opinion if he were to continue to be hampered by injury, he pushed through and was still able to be available to start the season.

As the 2023 season went along and he began to regain his pre-injury form, the tape Bateman was putting together even though he wasn’t getting the ball most of the time was still impressive. He’d put some of the league’s top corners in a blender with his superb route running and ability to separate at every level — but especially deep down the boundary.

Being able to attack opposing defenses downfield was one of the few elements of the Ravens’ offense in the first year under Todd Monken that lacked consistency. While many are excited about what fourth-round rookie Devontez Walker can contribute in that area, they still have an untapped talent in Bateman. He is capable of making those kinds of plays with both blazing speed and nuanced route running.

The entire league and Bateman himself got a glimpse of the kind of explosive difference maker he can be in Week 2 of the 2022 season. He torched the Miami Dolphins for a career-high 108 receiving yards and a touchdown on just four catches and seven targets. The bulk of damage in the lone 100+ yard receiving game of his career to date came on one play, which was a 75-yard catch-and-run for a score. Bateman blew past four-time Pro Bowl cornerback Xavien Howard.

“The Miami game is like the highlight of my NFL career right now,” Bateman said. “That whole game really was but that play definitely replays in my head a lot because I want to recreate that feeling for the team. I want to feel that for myself. I want to feel that football like good energy, creating big plays, crowd going crazy. That’s what every kid dreams of when they want to play football.”

Bateman isn’t necessarily buying into the hype as his main goals are “being able to stay healthy and go out and play.” As simple as his benchmarks, the Ravens wouldn’t have inked him to an extension earlier this offseason if they weren’t confident he could deliver and produce at a high level in year two of Monken’s offense and beyond.