The Baltimore Ravens have many questions facing their team this offseason. Their identity will change after hiring Jesse Minter as head coach. Their coaching staff has seen a ton of shifts under Minter, and with the new coaches looking to implement their own style of play, those shifts could be reflected on the roster.
Among those facing an uncertain future is wide receiver Rashod Bateman. Entering the 2025 season, it appeared he was the future of the wideout position alongside Zay Flowers. However, his 2025 campaign was significantly underwhelming. He finished with just 19 receptions for 224 yards and two touchdowns.
It’s safe to say that outside Flowers, who was named to his second career Pro Bowl last season, the Ravens’ wide receiver situation is hazy. It could become more unclear if they part ways with Bateman. According to ESPN’s Aaron Schatz, there’s a case to be made about Bateman being a departure candidate.
In a recent article, Schatz listed one player from each NFL team who may need a change of scenery this offseason. For the Ravens, he chose Bateman. Schatz wrote:
“A part of [Rashod Bateman's] problem last season was that opponents treated Bateman as the Ravens' WR1 because Zay Flowers was in the slot being covered by a nickelback. Bateman just isn't good enough to get away from that coverage, and he might flourish with a new team for whom he can be more of a complementary player.”
While Bateman’s Baltimore tenure was once filled with a ton of hope, it seems like his time as a Raven may be running out.
Ravens could look to give Rashod Bateman a fresh start elsewhere
Throughout Bateman’s career, there has been an overwhelming amount of inconsistency. He flashed as a deep threat and broke out in 2024 with 45 receptions, 756 yards, and nine touchdowns.Â
That breakout campaign earned him a nice payday in the ensuing offseason, where he signed a three-year, $36.75 million deal. However, overall, it feels like Bateman’s career has been filled with more lows than highs.
Bateman also didn’t help himself with some offseason drama in late January. Posts surfaced on an Instagram account he runs, where frustrations about his usage were made heard. The 26-year-old said he was hacked, but also mentioned he agreed with some things said. With that piling up, Baltimore and Bateman could be nearing a mutual split.
The former Minnesota Golden Gopher could thrive elsewhere. Much of his 2025 struggles may have been due to a lack of explosiveness on the offense as a whole and horrendous pass protection. Regardless, his frustrations boiled over on the field at times, signaling it’s time for a change.
If there is a change coming, it’d likely be a trade that sends Bateman out of Charm City. It wouldn’t help the team’s cap situation, as it would actually induce a heavy dead cap penalty. That’s probably something the Ravens would like to avoid, but if Bateman wants out and the relationship unravels, they may have to budge.