‘Never Risen to the Call’: NFL Insider Blasts $36 Million Ravens WR

It’s not a huge secret that Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Rashod Bateman‘s days with the franchise might be numbered. Anyone who watched Bateman’s struggles in 2025 could discern as much.

It’s now become apparent that the final nail in Bateman’s coffin could come in the 2026 NFL draft, where the Ravens are almost certainly going to add a wide receiver — although where they add said wide receiver is anyone’s guess. There’s an outside chance it could be in the 1st round.

“Don’t sleep on a first-round receiver such as Jordyn Tyson (Arizona State) or Makai Lemon (USC), either,” ESPN’s Ben Solak wrote. “The WR2 behind Zay Flowers has been Rashod Bateman for years now, yet he has never risen to the call.”

Bateman signed a 3-year, $36.75 million contract before the 2025 season and responded with 19 receptions for 224 yards and 2 touchdowns in 13 games.

The Ravens don’t have a voidable year in Bateman’s contract until 2028, and while he only counted $4.548 million against the salary cap in 2025, that number goes up to $6.298 million in 2026 and $10.9 million in 2027.

Miserable ROI on Bateman’s Contract for Ravens

With a new head coach in Baltimore in former assistant Jesse Minter, ESPN’s Aaron Schatz put Bateman at the top of his list of NFL players who need a “Change of Scenery” in 2026.

“The idea that Bateman needs a change of scenery might be unexpected considering the Ravens signed him to a three-year, $36.75 million extension before the 2025 season,” Schatz wrote on Thursday. “But he had a very disappointing campaign, with just 19 catches for 224 yards and two touchdowns. A part of his 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.”

Selected at No. 21 overall in the 2021 NFL draft by the Ravens, Bateman missed 16 games due to injuries over his first 2 seasons. He had a mini-breakout season in 2024 with 45 receptions for 756 yards and 9 touchdowns while playing in all 17 regular-season games for the 1st time in his career.

Bateman’s Name Popped Up in Trade Rumors

Bateman’s name was popular in NFL trade rumors ahead of the 2025 trade deadline.

At one point, CBS Sports NFL reporter Garrett Podell had Bateman as a good fit for the Los Angeles Rams. He still might be a good fit for another team if he shows he’s even semi-capable early in the year.

“With Pro Bowl wide receiver Puka Nacua suffering an ankle injury in a Week 6 win against the Baltimore Ravens, it would be wise for Los Angeles Rams general manager Les Snead to bolster quarterback Matthew Stafford’s receiving core,” Podell wrote. “Wide receiver Rashod Bateman (11 catches for 120 yards and a touchdown in six games this season) has become a forgotten man in the 1-5 Baltimore Ravens’ offense, especially with Jackson sidelined. Snead should give the Ravens a call to see if they would be willing to exchange Bateman for a pick or two.”

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