Ravens Extend Young Pass Catcher After Best Season of Career

On June 5th, 2025, the Ravens agreed to a three-year contract extension with wide receiver Rashod Bateman worth $36.75 million with $20 million in guarantees, per Jordan Schultz via X. Baltimore secures one of their top targets for Lamar Jackson through the 2029 season, at which point Bateman would be nearing 30 years old. This move comes after Bateman signed a three-year extension in April of 2024, but earned a new contract after the best statistical output since joining the Ravens in 2021.

Drafted 27th overall in the 2021 NFL Draft out of Minnesota, Bateman was designated to lead the WR room alongside Marquise “Hollywood” Brown and Sammy Watkins. However, Bateman began his rookie season on injured reserve due to a groin injury, earning his first regular season snap in Week Six, his first start in Week Nine and his first touchdown in Week 16. In Week Two of his second year, Bateman opened the season strong, recording his second 100-yard game of his career, including a 75-yard bomb in a shootout loss to the Miami Dolphins. Bateman would end up hurting his foot, causing him to sit out two games, come back for two, and then find himself on injured reserve by Week Nine, ending his season. In two seasons, Bateman looked like a health liability, playing in 18 games, starting half of them, recording 61 receptions, 800 yards and three touchdowns.

Despite being healthy in 2023, Bateman was not playing an explosive role for Baltimore, ranking fifth in receptions and sixth in receiving yards behind rookie Zay Flowers, Mark Andrews, Nelson Agholor and one-year Raven Odell Beckham Jr. Bateman missed one game due to injury and sat in the season finale, marking those as the only two games in 2023 where he did not record a reception. Bateman finished with 367 yards and a singular touchdown in an offense that was learning how to pass the ball more frequently. However, it was still enough to prove to the Ravens’ front office that Bateman needed to be extended after his rookie deal rather than opt for his fifth-year option.

Then the light turned on. In 2024, Bateman recorded career highs with 756 receiving yards and nine touchdowns, while playing in every game of the season. Bateman can also put two postseason touchdowns on his resume after scoring once in each of the two playoff games for Baltimore in 2024. Flowers was the only Raven with more receiving yards, and Andrews was the only Raven with more touchdowns on the team, solidifying Bateman as a part of Baltimore’s future and a reliable WR2 for Lamar Jackson. “Rashod made a big jump last year and we are excited to watch him this season,” said Ravens GM Eric Decosta. “He’s a young playamker who is an important piece of our offense.” The contract not only locks Bateman down until after the 2029 season but also makes the problematic cap situation less daunting in the coming years as the Ravens try to extend other playmakers like Kyle Hamilton, Tyler Linderbaum, and yes, even Lamar Jackson.