Rashod Bateman might be the most underrated trade candidate in the NFL right now. The Baltimore Ravens wide receiver is coming off a rough season, and the fit with the team just is not working the way anyone expected.
Bateman totaled just 224 receiving yards last season. That is a nearly impossible number for a player who was drafted in the first round and signed to a three-year extension shortly after. The Ravens have effectively been paying him top-tier wide receiver money to be barely productive.
Something has to give. Baltimore’s offense has evolved past what Bateman offers. Zay Flowers has become the clear No. 1 target. Mark Andrews is healthy again and dominating the middle of the field. The Ravens run the ball with Derrick Henry as much as any team in the league. The passing game does not need another possession receiver at Bateman’s price point.
That is the setup for a trade. Baltimore has receivers to spare and Bateman’s contract is expensive enough that the Ravens would probably prefer to spend that money elsewhere. Meanwhile, plenty of other teams need help at wide receiver right now.
The Panthers just lost rookie Chris Brazzell for the season. The 49ers had to trade for Deebo Samuel as a stopgap. The Cowboys have been shopping for receiver help for months. There are legitimate buyers in the market.
Bateman would fit well in a system that lets him work as a No. 2 or No. 3 receiver rather than a primary target. He is a smart route runner. He has good hands. He can win in tight coverage. He is exactly the kind of complementary receiver a lot of contenders need.
The problem is his contract. Bateman is owed real money over the next few years, and any team acquiring him has to plan around that cap hit. That limits which franchises can seriously consider a trade. Only teams with cap flexibility and immediate receiver need are going to make a call.
The Cowboys are the most interesting fit on paper. Dallas has cap space, needs a legit wide receiver to pair with CeeDee Lamb, and has the front-office aggression to make a bold move. Adding Bateman would give Dak Prescott another legitimate target and take some pressure off Lamb.
The Chargers are another option. Justin Herbert has been asking for weapons for years. The team has one of the youngest coaching staffs in the league and might be willing to bet on a change of scenery unlocking Bateman’s talent.
The Steelers have been quietly building an interesting roster. They need a No. 2 receiver alongside George Pickens. Bateman could be a perfect complement to Pickens’ downfield threat game.
For the Ravens, moving Bateman clears cap space and roster space that can be used elsewhere. Baltimore has needs on defense, particularly at cornerback and edge rusher. Any picks acquired in a Bateman trade could be flipped for veteran help or saved for the future.
The internal Ravens conversation has to be interesting. The team invested serious resources into Bateman and clearly hoped he would be a franchise piece. Admitting the plan did not work and cutting bait is hard for any front office. But holding onto a player who is not contributing at the level his contract suggests is worse.
Training camp is not a great time to move a player, but it is not impossible either. If Bateman continues to look like the No. 3 or 4 option in the passing game through the preseason, the pressure to make a move grows. By Week 2 or 3 of the regular season, a trade becomes much more likely.
Any team that gets Bateman is buying low on a former first-round pick who is only 26 years old. There is upside here for a smart franchise. If the Ravens are willing to eat some money or accept a reasonable pick in return, this could be one of the sneaky-best moves of the offseason.
Watch this space. Bateman is not going to be a Raven much longer.
A longtime sports reporter, Carlos Garcia has written about some of the biggest and most notable athletic events of the last 5 years. He has been credentialed to cover MLS, NBA and MLB games all over the United States. His work has been published on Fox Sports, Bleacher Report, AOL and the Washington Post.
