Rashod Bateman landed a second Ravens extension this offseason, putting an end to speculation about a potential trade. Multiple teams showed interest in the fifth-year receiver, and the Cowboys looked into a swap which would have sent him to Dallas. 
“I went through a lot of things with the Cowboys and all of that with my contract,” Bateman confirmed during an interview with The Athletic’s Jeff Zrebiec (subscription required). “There was a time when I didn’t know what was going to happen. [The Cowboys talks] were a thing, for sure. It was a possibility. I don’t want to deny that.”
It was reported in May the Cowboys inquired about a Bateman acquisition. The former first-rounder had permission from the Ravens to explore a move, and Dallas was known to be interested in finding a No. 2 option to complement CeeDee Lamb. That ultimately resulted in the George Pickens acquisition, one which could prove to be a one-year rental. Bateman, meanwhile, is in place with Baltimore through 2029.
“That’s the first thing I told [general manager Eric DeCosta]: I don’t want to go anywhere else. ‘I know you’ve got a lot of stuff to work through and we’ll figure it out when we figure it out,'” the 25-year-old added. “It took time, but it takes time with a lot of people’s contracts. He had a lot of contracts to get done, and maybe more to get done in the future. To be a priority for him in that way is important.”
DeCosta has authorized a new deal for left tackle Ronnie Stanley this offseason while also extending running back Derrick Henry. Talks with quarterback Lamar Jackson on a third contract are taking place as well, so an agreement on that front could be coming this summer. Each member of that trio is set to remain a key piece in the Ravens’ offense for 2025 and beyond, and the same is also true of Bateman. The Minnesota product received $36.75MM in new money on his extension, a reflection of his jump in production during his first fully healthy campaign.
Bateman set new career highs in receiving yards (756) and touchdowns (nine) during the 2024 regular season. He ranked third in the NFL with an average of 16.8 yards per catch and added a pair of scores in the playoffs. Expectations will be high for a repeat of that production moving forward, and Bateman will enter the coming season knowing his future is assured for years to come.
“We’ll figure it out when we figure it out” And this is why the contracts in the NFL are a mess.