The Ravens have worked out another extension on the offensive side of the ball. Wideout Rashod Bateman has a new deal in place, per a team announcement.
Providing details on the extension, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports this is a three-year, $36.75MM pact. $20MM in guarantees are present in the contract. Bateman is now on the books through the 2029 campaign. When speaking to the media on Thursday, Bateman noted extension talks took place since the end of the season (h/t Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic). This news marks the first time in franchise history a drafted receiver has signed multiple extensions with the Ravens.
One year ago, team and player worked out a short-term extension. That two-year deal came about during unusual circumstances, as Bateman briefly found himself on the reserve/did not report list at the start of training camp. By rule, that made him ineligible to have his fifth-year option picked up and hastened the need for a second contract to be worked out. Doing so provided the former first-rounder with a raise, something which paved the way for today’s new agreement.
Injuries proved to be a hindrance during the beginning of Bateman’s career. The Minnesota product had not lived up to expectations through his first three years in Baltimore, but he parlayed an uptick in usage into increased production in 2024. Logging a 69% snap share – in line with his workload from his rookie season but a notable spike compared to the two following years – Bateman comfortably set a new career high in yards (756) and touchdowns (nine). His 16.8 yards per catch average ranked third in the NFL. Those figures, along with a full slate of games, have driven the Ravens to make an even longer commitment in this case.
Bateman, 25, did not anticipate his 2024 extension. Similarly, today’s agreement was not preceded by reports of extension talks taking place. The only news surrounding him this offseason was the revelation that Dallas pursued Bateman in a trade. The Cowboys’ WR efforts ultimately resulted their George Pickens acquisition, leaving Baltimore’s No. 2 at the position in place. Bateman’s future for the remainder of his prime is now assured, and he will stay in place while operating in a tandem with fellow former first-rounder Zay Flowers.
The top of the receiver market now sits at over $40MM per year. Bateman has not come close to matching the production of Ja’Marr Chase or the seven other wideouts attached to an AAV of at least $30MM, but this can be seen as a team-friendly deal given the recent surges in value seen at the position. At $12.25MM per year, this pact essentially doubles Bateman’s yearly earnings compared to last year’s extension, but considering his age a commitment of this kind will keep him under team control at a rate well below the cost of other ascending wideouts (especially given the expectation that the salary cap will continue rising in the coming years).
In 2024 – the second season with Todd Monken in place as Baltimore’s offensive coordinator – the team ranked seventh in the NFL in passing yards. The Ravens’ only key change at the WR spot this offseason was signing DeAndre Hopkins to replace Nelson Agholor, so expectations will be high for a repeat of that success with many familiar faces in place. Baltimore has already extended running back Derrick Henry, preventing him from entering the 2025 campaign as a pending free agent.
That move has now been followed up by a new Bateman pact. Remaining extension priorities include a second contract for center Tyler Linderbaum and a cap-related deal for quarterback Lamar Jackson no later than next offseason. Regardless of what happens on those fronts, the Ravens will have stability atop the receiver depth chart with Bateman and Flowers for years to come.
Wow alot of faith in this guy. Has he ever done thousand yards yet?
This is about the going rate. He’s right between Darius Slayton and Josh Palmer in guaranteed money. If he were a thousand yard receiver, he’d be getting way more money.
He hasn’t done much to warrant this extension is my point. He’s done surprisingly little
Again, look at the market. Darnell Mooney got about the same contract when he was a year older and coming off two straight seasons with less than 500 receiving yards, and the cap has gone up another 9% since then. Bateman had 750 yards and 9 touchdowns in the offense that attempted the second fewest passes in football last year and he won’t turn 26 until midseason.
@Sentinel – then don’t draft him in your FFB league.
He’s 25 and healthy, is a good target for Jackson, and his production is solid within the framework of the team’s offense. And it’s the type of contract that fits nicely within their salary cap.
He won’t be in my fantasy. He can go weeks without even getting 50 yards lol
He had foot injuries for a couple years of his rookie deal if I remember right that limited him as wideouts need their feet. As a Steeler fan I’d love to have him on my team for that deal. He isn’t a #1 and probably a low end #2 but he’s a big target, decent possession receiver. Has his faults but 20 mil guaranteed on a 3 year deal is a good deal for team and player.
He’s getting $12 million a year, not $40 million. Good value player.
Makes sense
He just had 750 and 9 TDs and combining this with his extension from last year makes just over 10M.
For context, our division rival in Pittsburgh just signed DK to a 30M AAV contract. He averages about 1100 yards and 8 TDs. Mind you his last season it was 900+ yards and 5 TDs.
So Baltimore is paying 20M a season less for a guy who has had similar production.
This also doesn’t leverage them when the #1 receiver in Zay Flowers asks for a new contract.
I think saying he has similar production to Metcalf is a little disingenuous. Metcalf has never had under 900 yards in a season and has done it while drawing attention as a number one receiver. His counting stats dipped because he missed some games. But in an offseason when guys like Tutu Atwell and Dyami Brown got $10 million one year deals, this is a perfectly reasonable deal for Bateman.
They both just received deals and Metcalf put up more yards because he had about 30 more targets…but Bateman had more TDs
Bateman also just got a deal that puts him about 10M per season when you combine this with the two year extension he got last season.
I didn’t say they had similar production in their careers. I’m saying both just got paid after doing similar numbers but one cost 20M more on the cap than the other.
There is no real reason to dog the deal Bateman got.
There’s no real reason to dog on the deal Bateman got, but it’s also simply untrue that he’s had similar production to Metcalf.
I had to check his stats his best year was last year I was just interested they still see longterm value in him is all. It’s a solid deal of course
Most players haven’t.
Most overrated WR this era. Hyped up every year and just fails to deliver but gets paid somehow.
So you don’t watch football…makes sense
Didn’t disprove anything I said. At all. Cause you can’t
Former 1st round pick
Hyped up as Jackson’s next big target
Did squat for 3 years
Finally produced at a 3rd WR level
Wanna try again there?
You just said he’s the most overrated WR of this era…a hyperbolic, non factual statement.
You need facts? He had 750 yards and 9 TDs with another 2 TDs in the playoffs. But he’s done nothing…sure bud.
He posted a similar season to Quentin Johnson lmao in his 4th season. Congrats.
Yeah overrated.
Weird that you’d literally say “didn’t do anything for 3 years”…so you know he missed time? Like spent basically the whole time injured. Comes back for 6M per season on a two year deal last season. Then gets 36M on top of it after having 11 TDs last year…
“Missed time”
Played 12 games as a rookie
Only season he missed time was his 2nd season where he played 6
Played 16 his 3rd year
Played 17 this last year his 4th
So why did he do squat his 1st and 3rd year there bud?
Wanna guess a word that means failed to live up to expectations? OVERRATED
You’re literally celebrating him having a similar season to Quentin Johnston who gets dogged for under performing so far in his young career
Johnston: 55 rec, 711 yards, 8 TDs (2nd year)
Bateman: 45 rec, 756 yards, 9 TDs (4th year)
I said overrated not overpaid. Learn what words mean
So big stupid…this is how I know you didn’t watch Ravens games.
He was injured coming into the NFL. He played 12 games his rookie season…played 68% of his available snaps…
Played six games his second season…
Then yeah; he played in 16 games his 3rd year and played just over 50% of offensive snaps.
I went and got the statistics because you seem so bent on “facts”
But sure…he didn’t miss time or anything. Fuggin dork.
Ah so he played games and didn’t perform thanks for clarifying that.
A former first round draft pick playing 50% of snaps
Overrated
Most overrated In his era was the flaw. Maybe overrated but for a late 1st meh. Seems like the arrow is pointing up. Plus his first few years Lamar was t throwing like he is now.
You’re also saying overrated like people speak about him regularly. It’s a literal story about him getting a contract. Again, you’re a fuggin dork
He’s been a constant what if in fantasy for years. Hyped up in fantasy as a break out star in the making.
You have to have friends to join a fantasy league typically which would explain why you wouldn’t know where he’s been hyped up.
How about go make so friends loser.
No one talks about Bateman…
They do in fantasy every off constant
He’s been a constant what if for years. Hence overrated cause they predict he’ll finally live up to his draft status and utilize his size to create mismatches with flowers taking up underneath and yada yada yada underperforms expectations every fantasy year
Overrated.
Off Season*
When flowers gets hurt or Andrews gets hurt or any other WR gets hurt you’ll hear them hype up Bateman like he’s actually gonna do something this week. And once in a blue moon does lmao. Been that way for going on 5 years.
Overrated.
First 3 years I drafted him in fantasy cause guys at ESPN were all in on him……yup got screwed every year. He did alright last year in fantasy but definitely didn’t live up to the projections.
Lol of course your “knowledge” comes from fantasy.
lol you’re upset at an opinion of me saying Rashad Bateman is overrated cause he fails to deliver every year in fantasy despite being hyped up all the time by fantasy experts.
That’s cute.
Sorry I insulted your man crush.
Maybe if you and Kyle jock strap ride harder it’ll make you both feel better during the circle jerk sessions. Try not to cry though.
He’s literally never been hyped up. He was a projected second round pick going into that draft. He was considered a reliable, big target.
Please keep showing everybody you don’t actually watch football.
Guess you have no friends and don’t play fantasy football either. That makes a lot of sense about you actually.
Hey wait weren’t you the guy who I had to explain what depth is? Lmao oh yeah that was you. Two people had to explain to you why depth is important.
link to profootballrumors.com
Sit this one out before I post more receipts of your “football knowledge” kiddo
HE BROUGHT RECEIPTS! MORE!
If Bateman doesn’t perform to expectations the Ravens can always ask Dez Bryant to come in for a workout 🙂
Yep, making 12 million a year now without ever having over 800 receiving yards and people are complaining about James Cook wanting to get paid in Buffalo? Cook has averaged nearly 1400 yards from scrimmage the last two seasons and would be happy with Bateman’s contract, though he wont get 15 million per year …
Smart move for both sides.
Bateman gets a major raise and job security, and Baltimore gets to keep a reliable guy at WR next to their burgeoning superstar for years to come.
What’s more overrated Bateman or easy’s random weird and wrong take?
Your mom hahaha sorry couldn’t resist. Been a while since it’s been a thing.