OWINGS MILLS, Md. — When the Baltimore Ravens’ offseason officially began in late January following an AFC Championship Game loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, wide receiver Rashod Bateman wasn’t sure what the next couple of months would bring.
He knew he didn’t have a major injury to rehab, and that was a win in itself after battling injuries and abbreviated offseasons over his first two NFL campaigns. However, he quietly wondered whether he’d even be back with the Ravens as trade rumors swirled involving the 2021 first-round pick.
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One thing Bateman didn’t expect was for Baltimore to approach him about signing a contract extension.
“That extension definitely came out of nowhere,” Bateman said following Tuesday’s organized team activity at the Under Armour Performance Center. “I’m blessed, for sure. I did not see them doing that, but it shows that … the team believes in me. I love playing here. I love this organization. I love the fans. I feel like I still have a lot to do, so it was a no-brainer for me, for sure.”
The Ravens signed the 24-year-old wide receiver to a three-year contract extension in April. The deal raised some eyebrows because Bateman has struggled to stay healthy since Baltimore drafted him. He was coming off a season where he had just 32 catches for 367 yards and a touchdown.
Bateman, though, was not eligible for a fifth-year option on his rookie contract. After the wideout started last year’s training camp on the “did not report list,” he didn’t accrue a credited season. That meant he would have been a restricted free agent next offseason. By extending him when they did, the Ravens get another year of Bateman at an affordable price — and the former University of Minnesota standout, who’s had a tumultuous start in Baltimore, gets some additional security.
“It’s like if you don’t have a house or you have a house; now, you’ve got a house to lay your head. Now, I’ve got a house to lay my head. So, that concern is gone,” Bateman said. “I know who I’m playing for, I know what playbook I’m in, I know who my quarterback is, and now it allows me to just go be myself, freely.”
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Bateman was probably the most active player on the field Tuesday. He beat cornerback Brandon Stephens and caught a touchdown pass from Josh Johnson. He also made a handful of other catches. He’s moving well and having fun, and he seems to be in a good place physically and mentally.
“He looks incredible,” tight end Mark Andrews said of Bateman. “Everything — his route running, catching the ball, being where he’s supposed to be. He has it down to a science. I know he’s worked really hard, but he looks about as put together as he’s ever been. So, it’s going to be a big year for Rashod Bateman. I’m calling it now.”
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Andrews isn’t the first person to say that. Both general manager Eric DeCosta and coach John Harbaugh predicted a Bateman breakout earlier this offseason. Last week, offensive coordinator Todd Monken acknowledged that the team needs to do a better job getting Bateman involved. Bateman’s metrics last year, including separation rate, suggested that he had the potential to have a much better season. There were times when it didn’t appear Bateman and quarterback Lamar Jackson were on the same page.
“The ball just hasn’t found him in situations,” wide receivers coach Greg Lewis said Tuesday. “He comes out here every day and shows what he’s capable of doing, whether it’s practice or games. When he gets his opportunities in the game, he does that. It’s just about (getting) more and more opportunities, and then more and more production will come from him. I think he’s doing a great job with what we’re giving him and what we’re giving everybody to try and take advantage of the best of his ability.”
QB1 not in the building
Jackson, who spent his Memorial Day weekend partly at the NASCAR Coca-Cola 600 in North Carolina, was not on the field Tuesday as the Ravens got back to voluntary workouts following the holiday. Jackson was the lone projected offensive starter not on the field. He also didn’t participate in two of the team’s three OTAs last week.
Jackson was one of 15 Ravens not participating. The others were running back Keaton Mitchell (knee), wide receivers Nelson Agholor and Deonte Harty; linebackers Kyle Van Noy, Malik Harrison, Adisa Isaac (hamstring) and Yvandy Rigby; defensive linemen Michael Pierce and Rayshad Nichols; and defensive backs Kyle Hamilton, Marcus Williams, Arthur Maulet, Trayvon Mullen and Beau Brade (ankle).
Isaac and Brade did conditioning work on an adjacent field, while Mitchell, Rigby, Pierce and Nichols watched most of practice.
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Simpson stepping up
Despite the plethora of offseason losses, the Ravens don’t look all that differently regarding their defensive personnel. Their defensive line returns intact. Much of their edge-rush rotation returns. Projected starting defensive backs Marlon Humphrey, Stephens, Williams and Hamilton are all back. The most obvious difference is there will be another inside linebacker patrolling sideline to sideline next to Roquan Smith after Patrick Queen signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers in free agency.
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Trenton Simpson, a 2023 third-round pick out of Clemson, is the clear favorite to be that guy. He’s had a nice offseason to this point. Simpson looks a bit bigger and more self-assured than he did at this time last year. As a rookie, he practiced fast but was prone to getting caught out of position.
Tight end Isaiah Likely, often matched up against Simpson in practice, was reminded of his teammate’s improvements on Tuesday as Simpson broke up a pass intended for the tight end.
“He definitely beat me on a rep today. I know you all saw it,” Likely said. “I don’t really like losing a lot, but he’s definitely showing that he’s ready for the opportunity. He’s showing that he’s taking this offseason well — like a pro. He’s definitely showing that what you guys saw on tape against Pittsburgh wasn’t a fluke. He’s fast, he’s physical, he’s listening, and he’s really just soaking everything up like a sponge.”
Other thoughts
• The two stars of Tuesday’s practice were outside linebacker Odafe Oweh and defensive tackle Broderick Washington. Both were in the backfield throughout the day, blowing up running plays and providing pressure on the quarterback. It’s a big season for both players. The Ravens picked up the fifth-year option on Oweh’s rookie contract, so he’s signed through 2025. However, the Ravens need him to take the next step into being an eight-to-10-sack player. As for Washington, he was a disappointment last year after the Ravens signed him to a three-year, $15.75 million extension. He was even a healthy scratch for a key divisional contest against the Cincinnati Bengals. The Ravens’ defensive line played well last year, but a more active and impactful Washington would be a big plus for the group.
• Undrafted rookie safety Jordan Toles, once a heralded LSU recruit who finished his college career back home in Baltimore at Morgan State, got one-on-one coaching from Harbaugh after the special teams portion of practice. He then went to the far field and intercepted fellow rookie Devin Leary in full-team work. Toles also had an interception last week. There figures to be a job or two available come training camp at the safety position. Toles is making a nice early impression.
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• Ravens first-round rookie Nate Wiggins had a pass breakup on consecutive plays late in Tuesday’s practice during a period when the team was working on situational football. Wiggins hasn’t yet made any splash plays, but he’s acquitted himself nicely in the early going. He doesn’t carry himself like a rookie. He practices with a lot of confidence, and he’s not shy about talking a little bit, either.
• Quarterback-turned-wide receiver Malik Cunningham got corrected at one point during practice by Monken for running a route to the wrong side. However, Baltimore understands there will be some growing pains as Cunningham makes a full-time transition to wideout. The team seems to like where he’s at. “Malik is a football player, and he loves the game,” Lewis said. “He wants to find any way he can to get out on the field. He’s done a great job of transitioning from the quarterback position to the receiver position, working with Zay (Flowers) and Sean Ryan and ‘Bate.’ They’re bringing him along and teaching him the nuances of playing receiver, but he understands spatial awareness, (and) he understands from the quarterback’s perspective, so obviously, he understands zone coverage. Now, it’s just getting him to do the little things all receivers do, because he hasn’t done it a bunch.”
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• The Ravens waived injured undrafted rookie free agent Ja’Mion Franklin, a Maryland native who played his college football at Duke. Franklin’s departure left the Ravens with two empty 90-man roster spots to utilize, and they filled them by signing veteran defensive linemen Deadrin Senat and Josh Tupou. A third-round pick by the Atlanta Falcons in 2018, Senat has played parts of five seasons in the NFL, including the last two with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Tupou has played all six of his NFL seasons with the Bengals. With Pierce and Nichols sidelined so far for OTAs, the Ravens had just six interior defensive linemen. Senat and Tupou should provide some depth.
(Photo: Cooper Neill / Getty Images)
