2021 NFL Draft: Expect Rashod Bateman to enter WR1 discussion
Minnesota’s Rashod Bateman could be the top wide receiver in the 2021 NFL Draft class.
The Big Ten conference returns to the football field this weekend, allowing us to dig deeper into some more premier 2021 NFL Draft prospects. There is exciting talent across the conference, but Minnesota wide receiver Rashod Bateman is probably the Big Ten player who I am most excited to see in the opening weekend.
As a sophomore last season, Bateman caught 60 passes for 1,219 yards and 11 touchdowns. Bateman was going to opt-out of the 2020 season but eventually decided to return to Minnesota for another year. With Tyler Johnson moving on to the NFL, Bateman is set up for a massive workload as the clear number one target in the Minnesota offense.
Bateman has a nice combination of size and athleticism at the wide receiver position. He is a smooth route-runner who does a nice job of finding space against any defense. Bateman also shows strong, consistent hands and displays impressive concentration when catching the ball in traffic. He is a strong contested-catch receiver who is going to be a valuable weapon in the red zone at the next level.
Bateman is also an impressive playmaker after-the-catch, showing a strong combination of quickness and contact balance for a wide receiver. Bateman is not a freak athlete who wins with explosive speed, but he is a smooth player who is difficult to bring down in the open field.
Minnesota quarterback Tanner Morgan is going to be looking for Bateman early and often throughout the 2020 season and it all begins this weekend against Michigan. Bateman has already proven himself as a premier playmaker at the wide receiver position and has all of the skills needed to continue to have success.
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Expect Bateman to start his season off with a big performance against Michigan and begin to take his 2021 NFL Draft stock to the next level. Before it is all said and done, Bateman undoubtedly has the talent to challenge guys like Ja’Marr Chase, Jaylen Waddle and Devonta Smith at the top of the wide receiver class.