For the past five seasons, the AFC has gone through Kansas City. However, the Baltimore Ravens did their due diligence this offseason, adding superstar running back Derrick Henry in hopes of dethroning the back-to-back Super Bowl champions. Alongside Henry and two-time MVP Lamar Jackson, Baltimore will try to avenge last season’s AFC Championship loss to Kansas City, an outing in which Jackson played poorly down the stretch.
Jackson, the winner of last season’s MVP, received a strong showing from wideout Zay Flowers, but offensive coordinate Todd Monken expects further growth from another young pass-catcher on the roster. On Thursday, Monken praised three-year wideout Rashod Bateman.
Baltimore Ravens WR Rashod Bateman: Earns Recognition from Offensive Coordinator
Last season, the Baltimore Ravens’ passing attack ran through rookie wide receiver Zay Flowers; years prior, quarterback Lamar Jackson favored star tight end Mark Andrews. With Flowers and Andrews healthy and the addition of elite rusher Derrick Henry, many pundits believe Baltimore has one of the most top-heavy but spectacular offenses in the NFL. However, offensive play-caller Todd Monken expects 24-year-old receiver Rashod Bateman to play a significant role in the Ravens’ 2024 game plan.
Todd Monken says he’s seen “tremendous growth” from Rashod Bateman since midway through last season and expects him to get the ball a lot more this year.
— Ryan Mink (@ryanmink) May 23, 2024
According to Ryan Mink, the editorial director of the Baltimore Ravens, Monken spoke to the media on Thursday, emphasizing a “tremendous growth” from Bateman dating back to midway through last season. He also expects the pass-catcher to “ball a lot more” this upcoming fall, albeit more mouth to feed on offense. Bateman has failed to replicate his career numbers from his rookie season in 2021 but had a healthy contribution last year, his first with Monken as the team’s play-caller.
Bateman: Entering Fourth Season
Rashod Bateman, the 27th overall selection in the 2021 NFL draft, played collegiately at Minnesota. The six-foot-one, 197-pound speedster played well as a rookie, snagging 46 receptions for 515 yards and one touchdown. His best game of the season came late in the year, a seven-catch, 103-yard performance against the Cleveland Browns. However, he missed the majority of the early part of the season with a groin injury.
A foot injury hampered Bateman for much of the 2022 season, with the Georgia native appearing in just six games. He finished the year with only 15 catches for 285 yards and two scores. Bateman returned to full health in 2023, snagging 32 catches for 367 yards and a score. He currently projects to align opposite Zay Flowers and Nelson Agholor in three-receiver sets.
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