Rashod Bateman NFL Draft Profile Overview
Position: Wide Receiver
Height: 6’2″
Weight: 210 pounds
School: University of Minnesota
Rashod Bateman 2021 NFL Draft Profile
Last year in the 2020 NFL Draft, the wide receiver position was one of the most demanded positions in the first round. This year, that same demand is expected to remain as there are several high-caliber receivers in this NFL Draft. Former Minnesota Golden Gophers wide receiver Rashod Bateman is one of those projected high picks. After a strong freshman season in 2018, Bateman followed that up with an outstanding 2019 season. Bateman caught 60 receptions for 1,219 yards for an average of 20.3 yards per reception and 11 touchdowns. He and Tyler Johnson (now with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers) created one of the most dynamic receiving corps in college football. Bateman and Johnson were named first-team All-Bin Ten Conference.
Bateman became the second high-profile player to opt-out of the 2020 College Football season due to the tremendous impact of COVID-19. He rejoined the Golden Gophers on September 30th after the Big Ten reinstated their football season. Bateman opted-out again five games into the season after the Minnesota versus Wisconsin game was canceled. He finished the 2020 season with 36 receptions for 472 yards and two touchdowns. He was named third-team All-Big Ten for the 2020 season. After a stellar career building the Golden Gophers into a Big Ten title contender, Bateman will look to an instant impact player in the NFL. This Draft class of wide receivers is one of the unique and diverse players in recent years. Bateman possesses attributes that define him as a number one receiver as well as a Pro-Bowl caliber player.
Strengths
- Able to make great and absurd one-handed or over-the-shoulder catches;
- Defined route runner on the outside or at the slot;
- Hard to bring down once after the catch;
- Can create separations through shifty moves and runs;
- Able to find the ball consistently;
- He is a type of receiver that can win tough contested matchups;
- Great size, length, and frame.
Weaknesses
- Not a speedy or explosive route-runner or after the catch;
- Takes him a while to finish his change of direction turns;
- Experiences the occasional drops;
- Doesn’t have the large vertical jumps going for the catch;
- Takes him a while to a good breakout speed;
- Has tight hips that limits his great athleticism.
NFL Comparisons: D.K. Metcalf (Seattle Seahawks)
Teams With Needs At The Position: Baltimore Ravens, Chicago Bears, Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns, Detroit Lions, Green Bay Packers, Indianapolis Colts, Kansas City Chiefs, Miami Dolphins, New England Patriots, New Orleans Saints, New York Giants, New York Jets, Philadelphia Eagles, Washington Football Team
Projection: Late first round
Bottom Line on Rashod Bateman
For the three years in Minnesota, Bateman displayed his ability to be a number one receiver and versatile playmaker. When either at the outside receiver spot or the slot, he has shown to be the reliable and definitive playmaker. His role for his new potential NFL team can be flexible but his most dangerous plays are on the outside. If utilized efficiently, he becomes an instant playmaker to help establish an explosive passing offense. What he lacks in speed, he makes up for with tremendous athleticism and winning contested catches.
Like Metcalf, Bateman has shown that an elite and dangerous doesn’t require speed. It will help his case as an NFL receiver to find more speed and learn to loosen his hips on change of directions. A deep playoff team like New Orleans or Green Bay can get a steal by drafting Bateman as their one of the main two receivers like he was his sophomore year with Johnson.
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