2021 NFL Draft: Alabama, Ohio State load up two-round mock draft
2021 NFL Draft 1st round: 26th pick
Scouting Report. WR. Minnesota. Rashod Bateman. 26. player. 26. Pick Analysis
A wide receiver could be somewhat of a difficult pick for the Baltimore Ravens to justify considering how much they emphasize running the football.
If they hadn’t just used a first-round pick on Hollywood Brown in the 2019 NFL Draft, this might be a bit easier of a pill to swallow. Still, it might be a necessary move for the Ravens especially if Rashod Bateman is available.
Despite being 32nd in the NFL in pass attempts, the Ravens have been one of the most efficient teams in the NFL at scoring through their passing attack in the past two seasons. Lamar Jackson won the MVP award in 2019 for more than just his running abilities.
Brown emerged as the team’s top target in the passing game in 2020 with 100 targets but behind him at wide receiver was Willie Snead with just 48 targets.
As solid as Snead has proven to be in his career, adding a player like Bateman could be a game-changer for the Ravens’ offense. He is capable of finding openings at every level of the field and is such a good complement both physically and skill-wise with Brown.
Bateman, the Big Ten receiver of the year in 2019, set Minnesota school records for receiving yards and touchdowns in his first two seasons on campus.