2021 NFL Draft: Jets, Panthers fill QB need in three-round mock draft
2021 NFL Draft: Round 1, 22nd overall
WR. Rashod Bateman. 47. 22. player. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. Minnesota
Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots shocked nobody when they traded down earlier in this mock draft. That being said, they may surprise some if they were to pull the trigger with this specific fit.
The Patriots always seem to be building through the trenches and on the defensive side of the ball. Their offensive attack has mostly been ignored in recent years and it has put them in a tough situation in life after Tom Brady. The Pats need to find a way to add impact offensive playmakers this offseason and snagging Rashod Bateman in the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft would be a major step in the right direction.
Bateman is the biggest or most explosive wide receiver in this class, but he is a fantastic football player who is going to be an impact player at the next level. Bateman is a strong route runner who understands how to create space against man coverage and find the soft spots against zone. He also has soft hands, tracks the ball in the air extremely well and shines in contested-catch situations.
Once the ball is in his hands, Bateman is a fantastic playmaker who shows an impressive combination of quickness and contact balance to create after the catch. Simply put, this guy can make plays all over the field and could quickly grow into a legitimate number one option for whoever is taking snaps under center in New England.