Despite missing 16 games in his first two NFL seasons due to injuries, 2021 first-round selection Rashod Bateman was able to play a large portion of the 2023 season as a wide receiver for the Ravens.
Despite Bateman's greater availability, his stats did not jump. In 16 games during the regular season, Bateman caught 32 receptions for 367 yards and a score. In the two playoff games, he grabbed four passes for 41 yards.
While that level of performance may have been anticipated considering Bateman's draft position, it has not dampened the expectations of head coach John Harbaugh for 2024
At a news conference on Friday, Harbaugh said that he expects Bateman to have greater playing time next season because to the potential losses of Odell Beckham Jr. and Nelson Agholor.
Because he was healthy throughout the year and had an opportunity to establish himself, Bate will start next year, and I expect him to have a greater impact then, so I'm hoping he has a breakout year and makes a ton of plays.
His performance will be commensurate with the number of snaps he plays, according to Harbaugh, who made the announcement on the school's website.
It will be this offseason when the Ravens decide whether to pick up Bateman's fifth-year option
Even while they aren't expected to sign the wide receiver after his first three seasons, he'll be in a strong position to get a new contract if he fulfills Harbaugh's forecast.
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