OTL: After “Lost Season,” It’s Now or Never for Rashod Bateman

Just over a year ago, Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Rashod Bateman inked a three-year, $36.75 million extension with the team, locking him down in Charm City through the 2029 season.

After etching the deal back in June 2025, however, Bateman turned in arguably the least productive campaign of his five-year NFL career. All of Ravens Flock has acknowledged it, and now the team’s general manager Eric DeCosta has, too.

“Last year was just kind of a lost season in some ways,” DeCosta said on 105.7 The Fan on Friday.

Bateman, 26, posted a career-low 224 receiving yards on a measly 19 catches a year ago. The Georgia native also bottomed out on receptions per game, notching a career-worst 1.5 in 2025.

It’s safe to say that, to this point, the Ravens have not gotten their money’s worth out of the 27th overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft.

But, that has not caused DeCosta’s faith to waver. The team’s general manager does not regret his investment in Bateman, nor does he believe last season’s underwhelming performance is an indication of his value as a player.

“He’s a phenomenal athlete. Great route-runner. Rashod, it’s right there in front of him. He’s shown flashes of being a real problem for other teams,” DeCosta said. “His mindset is good. I’m really, really excited to see how he does this year with Declan [Doyle] in this offense.”

All in all, the upcoming season is shaping up to be a make-or-break campaign for Bateman.

The former Minnesota Golden Gopher is aiming to return to his 2024 production, a year in which he tallied career highs in receiving yards (756), receptions (72), touchdowns (9), first downs (39) and yards per target (10.5). He also amassed a career-best 132.2 passer rating when targeted two seasons ago.

As one of three first-round wide receivers selected by Baltimore across the past eight drafts, the pressure is already heightened for Bateman. Add in that the 26-year-old has eclipsed 600 receiving yards just once as he enters his sixth season, and the stakes are raised that much more.

The Ravens also added a pair of mid-round rookie receivers in USC’s Ja’Kobi Lane (Round 3, Pick 80) and Indiana’s Elijah Sarratt (Round 4, Pick 115), who will both compete for target share.

With a new offensive mastermind in town, however, Bateman has a new opportunity to reestablish himself as one of Lamar Jackson’s top weapons.

Doyle helped the Chicago Bears sustain a trio of 600-yard receivers last year as D.J. Moore logged 682 yards, Rome Odunze 661 yards and Luther Burden III 652 yards.

Zay Flowers, the first Pro-Bowl wide receiver in Ravens history, has already established himself as the team’s top target at the position. But, maybe the key to unlocking Bateman’s potential as a dangerous WR2 is the youngest offensive coordinator in NFL history.

DeCosta has made it known that he is excited for the sixth-year receiver’s upcoming season. “I love the guy. I know he’s probably his biggest critic, but he’s a playmaker, and I expect him to have a great year this year,” he said.

Everyone has seen the flashes. The potential is there.

But professional football is a brutal business. If you can’t hang, you get replaced.

The outlook of Baltimore’s exciting wide receiver corps, which also consists of Lane, Sarratt and former third-round selection Devontez Walker, makes that possibility much likelier should the 26-year-old have another struggling season. Each of the team’s young targets are hungrily searching for an opportunity.

That opportunity, however, is currently dictated by Bateman, who seemingly has one more chance to prove himself worthy of a starting spot in Baltimore’s new-look offense.

So, will he live up to the expectations this time around? Will Bateman make the most of what appears to be his final chance?

The post OTL: After “Lost Season,” It’s Now or Never for Rashod Bateman appeared first on Russell Street Report.

Source: https://russellstreetreport.com/2026/07/20/out-to-lunch/now-never-bateman/