Ravens: What will the WR room look like when Rashod Bateman returns?

The Ravens’ puzzle has many appearances

The number of combinations is mouthwatering.

Hollywood, Watkins, and Bateman, stand right now as the best route runners on the team. They all display the most consistent ability to generate separation in their routes, utilizing advanced elements of route running to beat defensive backs.

Proche and Duvernay, meanwhile, are still developing as route runners. They absolutely deserve roles and are showing the necessary improvement, but they aren’t quite as versatile.

We also can’t forget about Miles Boykin. Boykin has the most to prove of the receivers and figures to be furthest down the depth chart, but he is the player who kept an effective-looking Dez Bryant off the field in the playoffs last season.

In Bateman, Watkins, and Brown, the Ravens have their best three-receiver set. They have excellent speed, mixed with excellent route running, versatile catchers of the ball, and three receivers who can thrive in every receiver position.

Mixing in Proche, Duvernay, and/or Boykin, gives the team even more varied skill sets.

They can add additional speed and run after the catch threat in Duvernay, or inside/outside contested-catch ability in Proche, or a bigger-bodied downfield threat in Boykin.

No matter the situation or formation, the Ravens have many different looks to work with and diversify a long-beleaguered and one-dimensional passing game.

What’s more, it is more evident than ever the Ravens have a QB in Lamar Jackson who can get the most from his receivers.

Rashod Bateman brings with him an awful lot of expectation, and it’s important to temper that early and give him time to adjust.

However, it’s impossible to argue the direction the Ravens’ passing game is heading, and Bateman brings what is needed to truly lift it to a never-before-seen-in-Baltimore level.