Rashod Bateman is looking for his first Pro Bowl nod after adding 10 pounds of muscle
After producing the best season of his career, Rashod Bateman agreed to a 3-year, $36.75 million contract extension with the Baltimore Ravens. The move came nearly a year after the Ravens signed Bateman to a three-year contract extension eight days before the deadline for exercising his 5th-year option.
Bateman has developed into one of the NFL's most reliable and efficient route runners, and some in the Baltimore media believe he has elevated his game to be among the top No. 2 options in the NFL. During a recent sit-down with Brian Wacker of the Baltimore Sun, Bateman confirmed that he added ten pounds of muscle during the off-season, while maintaining his speed and burst.
A 2021 first-round pick, Bateman missed most of his second season after having foot surgery. He was still dealing with the effects in 2023 after finishing with 56 targets, the fourth-most on the team behind Zay Flowers, Odell Beckham Jr., and Mark Andrews.
Overall, it was his most impactful regular season since getting drafted by Baltimore, with career highs in receiving yards (756) and touchdowns (nine) on the second-highest catch total of his career (45) across 17 games. Bateman is signed through the 2026 season.
The new contract comes after Baltimore turned down a trade offer from the Dallas Cowboys, which eventually led to the Cowboys acquiring George Pickens from the Steelers.
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