The Baltimore Ravens selected wide receiver Rashod Bateman with the 27th overall pick in the 2021 NFL draft. He was supposed to have a big role right at the start of his rookie year, but instead suffered a groin injury in the middle of training camp that sidelined him until the team’s Week 6 game with the Los Angeles Chargers.
Baltimore general manager Eric DeCosta spoke to the media on Wednesday at the 2022 NFL Scouting Combine. He was asked about his impressions of Bateman bouncing back from his groin injury, and the general manager went into detail about some of the things that he was impressed with about Bateman.
“Rashod [Bateman] made great progress. He suffered the injury, as a lot of our guys did, early on. He missed, how many games? Maybe four or five games, maybe six games early in the year. The thing I’ve been impressed [about] with Rashod [is] his route running, [he has] very, very good hands and his attitude this year – his ability day-in and day-out to compete, to learn the offense, to challenge the defensive backs every single day, and he made plays when he had the chance. He’s very strong to the football. We think he’s going to make a big, big jump this year in his second year, and we’re very excited for his future.”
The fact that DeCosta believes in Bateman by giving him an endorsement for his future is a great sign. The former University of Minnesota star caught 46 passes for 515 yards and one touchdown in 12 games during his first NFL season, showing an ability to pick up first downs and come down with contested footballs. It looks like great things are in store for Bateman, who impressed in 2021.