Scouting the 2021 NFL Draft: Minnesota’s Rashod Bateman
By Seth Steere
Where Bateman Can Improve
To be frank, attempting to pick apart Bateman’s game can be difficult and ultimately you’re just splitting hairs, however, there are some concerns to his game. Albeit the stats are very intriguing, he seems to either put up plus-150 yards or he just isn’t involved at all. Part of that could be that he had Johnson as his counterpart, but it’s brow-raising.
Something that could contribute to that factor is that he struggles against corners who like to get physical — the Nebraska game can be used as an example. Bateman found himself lined up against former Cornhusker, Lamar Jackson, (not the Ravens’ quarterback) who is much larger than your average college cornerback and had issues creating space.
Lastly, Bateman wasn’t put into many opportunities where he could collect yards after the catch. Not garnering those chances makes it tough to project whether or not he presents much upside in this category at the next level. Nevertheless, you can’t be too harsh when he didn’t get the reps.
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Quick Synopsis with 2021 NFL Draft next
Bateman is best suited for the same role he played in college, the “X” receiver. He is excellent at winning at the line and putting the defensive back on his heels, which is extremely important for that outside receiver position. The only real obstacle that stands in the way is whether or not he can work through contact and finds ways to separate from some of the more tenacios defensive backs. If Bateman is able to lie this concern to bed, there is no reason he can’t be a Pro-Bowl level receiver in the NFL.