Rashod Bateman has heard the label for years now: talented, but never quite the receiver his draft position promised. Five years into his Ravens career, he sounds like he finally believes that's about to change.
Baltimore made Bateman the 27th overall pick in the 2021 draft, out of Minnesota, where he was named Big Ten Receiver of the Year in 2019 on the strength of a big-play profile — 60 catches for 1,219 yards and 11 touchdowns that season, a 20.3 yards-per-catch average that hinted at a vertical, downfield threat rather than a possession receiver. That profile never fully translated to Baltimore, in large part because his early career was defined by injury more than production. He missed the first five games of his rookie year following abdominal surgery, then lost the final 11 weeks of the 2022 season to a Lisfranc injury in his foot — the kind of injury that can quietly sap a receiver's burst even after he's technically healed.
Bateman broke through in 2024, catching 45 passes for 756 yards and nine touchdowns, providing the downfield element that helped Baltimore average 30.5 points a game. Then 2025 undid a lot of that progress. Bateman and quarterback Lamar Jackson were both banged up for stretches of the season, and even when Bateman played, he barely registered — 19 catches for 224 yards and two touchdowns on 38 targets across 13 games, a career-low 11.4% target share, down from 15.4% the year before.
Which is what makes camp sound different this time. Bateman has talked openly about how new offensive coordinator Declan Doyle is using him all over the formation, rather than parking him in one spot on the outside. "I feel good. I'm healthy. I'm blessed. I had a good offseason. With the new vibes around here, I'm definitely excited," Bateman said. "New energy as well as a new offense. I'm doing things that I've never done before. I'm blessed and excited to see what we've got in store."
Asked directly what excites him about the role Doyle envisions, Bateman pointed to something that's dogged him for years — being miscast as a one-dimensional receiver. "I'm moving around all over the place. I feel like in the past I've been kind of a one-dimensional receiver. I feel like Declan's seen my talent. He sees everybody's talent. A lot of guys are moving around, and he's playing to everybody's strengths right now. I think there's a lot that we all get to show. I'm excited to see that."
He described the shift as something close to rejuvenating, five years and multiple injuries into his career. "As a receiver, you want somebody to believe in you. You want somebody to see your ability," Bateman said. "I think Declan is doing a good job of moving all of us around — not just myself. Zay's been moving around a lot. You all see Ja'Kobi Lane out there making plays and Tez Walker. I think there's a lot in store for a lot of guys this season."
Asked what specifically about the scheme plays to his strengths, he kept coming back to versatility. "I'm moving around a lot — I'm in the slot, as well as outside. I think that's a blessing for me. I appreciate Declan for doing that. I get to show my talent more and more."
Where that leaves Bateman on the depth chart is still an open question. He enters camp as Baltimore's presumptive No. 2 receiver behind Zay Flowers, fending off a real mix of competition — Devontez Walker, LaJohntay Wester, and rookies Ja'Kobi Lane and Elijah Sarratt all have real paths to targets in an offense built around moving pieces rather than fixed roles. If Doyle's scheme genuinely uses Bateman's short-area quickness and route versatility the way Bateman is describing it, this could be the environment that finally makes him more than an occasional deep threat. If it doesn't, the crowded receiver room behind him won't wait around.
We'll see the first real evidence Saturday, when the Ravens open the preseason at home against the Eagles.