Latest news with #RashodBateman
Yahoo
11 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Is DeAndre Hopkins the Ravens' 'Missing Piece'?
Is DeAndre Hopkins the Ravens' 'Missing Piece'? originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Last season the 12-5 Baltimore Ravens featured one of the most complete rosters in football on both sides of the ball. Although their season was cut short in heartbreaking fashion in the AFC Divisional Round, they have all the right reasons to believe another deep run - possibly further - could be in the cards in 2025. Advertisement Baltimore's time to win is now. Because of this, general manager Eric DeCosta has pulled out all the stops in free agency to fill the team with as many high-caliber veterans as possible in hopes of finally putting the puzzle together. Earlier in the offseason, the Ravens signed star wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins, one of the game's most accomplished pass-catchers and a consummate professional in the locker room. D-Hop joins exciting young receivers Zay Flowers and Rashod Bateman to form a trio that could compete with the likes of the best receiving corps in franchise history. And it doesn't hurt when a two-time MVP in Lamar Jackson is throwing them the ball. At minicamp, some Ravens teammates mentioned their observations from the brief time they've had with Hopkins and how he has gelled with the organization. "I like 'D-Hop'. I've gotten to have some conversations with him. He is 'Mr. Contested Catch.' That is for sure," said cornerback Marlon Humphrey. "Just having a conversation with him, I thought it was really humbling. Advertisement "We asked him, me and one of the strength coaches, 'What do you think about the team from the outside looking in since you've been on other teams?' And he said, 'It seems like there's been a piece that's been missing. I could be that addition. I could not be that addition.'" Hopkins, 33, may recognize that he's on the downward slope of his career. He enters Year 13 in the NFL a part of his third team in three years. The former All-Pro was traded to the Kansas City Chiefs midway through last season. He wasn't able to be the missing piece for Patrick Mahomes & Co., but the Ravens still believe he is capable of that role in Baltimore. With a 1,000-yard season as recent as 2023, the capability is still there. On Baltimore, however, he'll likely fill a role as a complementary piece around the Ravens' stellar run game and loaded arsenal of pass targets. Advertisement It sounds like Hopkins has humbly taken ownership of this position as he does everything he can to contribute to what would be his first Super Bowl win. "To hear a veteran guy, All-Pro guy and Pro Bowl guy say he could be, or he could not be [the piece that's missing], to me, that was extremely humbling. I feel that he fits the Ravens mold, and I think he'll fit right in," Humphrey added. Related: Could DeAndre Hopkins Someday Own an NFL Team? Related: Ravens Corners React to Jaire Alexander Signing This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 21, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Ravens WRs Poised To 'Flip That Narrative' After Major Signings
Ravens WRs Poised To 'Flip That Narrative' After Major Signings originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Last season, Zay Flowers became the first Baltimore Ravens wide receiver ever to be selected to the Pro Bowl. The honor was rightfully deserved as the second-year pro surpassed 1,000 receiving yards as quarterback Lamar Jackson's top target. Advertisement Flowers is joined by a collection of impactful receivers on the Ravens' offense. Rashod Bateman and veteran DeAndre Hopkins each signed new contracts this offseason. There's also versatile tight ends Mark Andrews and Isaiah Likely for Jackson to turn to in the pass game ... oh, and not to mention Derrick Henry out of the backfield. Bateman, who is entering his fifth year with the Ravens after his 2021 first-round selection, is out to prove that Baltimore's pass game should be feared around the league. "There's a lot of love and respect that comes with a team that drafted you and I wanted to flip that narrative of receivers here, and I definitely think we're on the right track of doing that," Bateman said via "Not really looking for nobody else's validation but it feels good, somewhat, to be in the midst now headed down that right track." While the pass game was outshined by Baltimore's league-leading rushing attack, the team still finished seventh in passing offense, averaging 237.4 yards per game. Advertisement Bateman believes the addition of former All-Pro Hopkins, who signed a one-year $5 million free agent deal, will do wonders for the unit on and off the field. "You could just definitely tell that he's been in the game a while and done a lot of great things," Bateman said of Hopkins. "A lot of people respect what he's done and what he brings to the table. "He's done great things, so hopefully we can take that, add it to our game, add it to our personalities to go help this team. He's been good for us and I know he's going to be big for us this season." Bateman is the most tenured wide receiver of the bunch, and he's excited to keep it that way. He signed an extension with the Ravens worth $36.7 million over the next three years. Advertisement Last season was among the best of his career, finishing with career highs in yards (756) and touchdowns (9). Pro Bowl or not, the Ravens are equipped with plenty of weapons for Jackson through the air. At mandatory minicamp, reporters noticed something in their first glimpses of the All-Pro QB. "He does look skinnier, quicker and faster," Bateman said. "The league is in trouble, per usual." But don't tell Lamar that ... at least not the "skinny" part. He joked with with media when a reporter asked about his body maintenance and pointed to his slim physique. "Just eat food. Push ups, sit ups. That's all. Just stay in shape," Jackson said. Advertisement "Don't say 'skinny'. Say 'stay in shape'. Fit. That sounds better. Because skinny sounds like 'puny'. I don't think I'm puny. I'm still 200!" Bateman is right, with these receivers, the league will be watching out for the Ravens' offense. Per usual. Related: Ravens Making Case for Best Roster in Franchise History Related: Could DeAndre Hopkins Someday Own an NFL Team? This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 19, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Zay Flowers Reveals the "Perfect" Thing He's Already Learned From New Ravens Teammate DeAndre Hopkins
Zay Flowers Reveals the "Perfect" Thing He's Already Learned From New Ravens Teammate DeAndre Hopkins originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Former Clemson star wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins may have just landed in the Ravens' flock, but the five-time Pro Bowl receiver is already making waves, especially with the team's ascending star wideout, Zay Flowers. Advertisement Hopkins, who inked a one-year deal in March, brings a staggering 12 years of NFL experience to a relatively young Baltimore receiving corps. For Flowers, a Pro Bowler in his own right entering his third season, the arrival of the player known as "D-Hop" is a game-changer. Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins (8) against the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LIX at Ceasars Superdome© Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images "He's a real vet," Flowers told reporters this week. "Like, he knows everything. He teaches you what he knows. He gives out the game, and he works hard, too. So, it's easy to follow him. It's easy to get behind him and do what he does." The addition of Hopkins, 33, creates a formidable receiving trio alongside Flowers and Rashod Bateman, giving quarterback Lamar Jackson a potent arsenal. After a stellar 2024 campaign where he racked up 1,059 yards and four touchdowns, Flowers is hungry for more, and he sees Hopkins as a key to his continued development. Advertisement One of the biggest takeaways for the 24-year-old so far has been Hopkins' meticulous approach to the craft. "He's patient in everything he does," Flowers explained. "He understands that in practice, you've got to detail it, so in the game it's perfect. So, I've been learning that from him." That dedication to detail is what has allowed Hopkins to build a Hall of Fame-caliber resume, amassing 984 receptions for 12,965 yards and 83 touchdowns over his career with the Texans, Cardinals, Titans, and Chiefs. The mentorship isn't just about on-field technique. Flowers noted that the most consistent piece of advice he's received from veteran receivers, including Hopkins, Nelson Agholor, and former Raven Odell Beckham Jr., is about longevity. Advertisement "Just take care of your body," Flowers said. "They all tell me the same thing, take care of your body and maybe I can play 13 years like them," he added with a laugh. For a Ravens team with Super Bowl aspirations, the connection between the savvy veteran and the explosive young star could be the spark that makes their high-powered offense unstoppable. If Flowers is already perfecting his game based on Hopkins' tutelage, the rest of the AFC is officially on notice. This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 17, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
NFL rumors: Rashod Bateman explored trade prior to Ravens contract extension
The post NFL rumors: Rashod Bateman explored trade prior to Ravens contract extension appeared first on ClutchPoints. Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Rashod Bateman signed a three-year, $36.75 million contract extension with $20 million guaranteed this offseason. However, reports are now that the Ravens' pass catcher actually looked into trade opportunities ahead of signing the deal. Advertisement 'What led to his contract extension is that he was almost traded during this offseason,' ESPN's Jeremy Fowler told the NFL Live crew. 'He went to the Ravens, wanted a new deal, they simply said, 'no,' but they gave him permission to seek a trade. So, he went out on the open market, talked to teams, and I was told there were several involved … the Dallas Cowboys, New England Patriots, Green Bay Packers. So, he saw he had a market. The Ravens saw that and said, 'OK, we'll just pay you instead. We won't trade you.'' Bateman is the definition of a middling wide receiver. Last season, he caught 45 balls for 756 yards and nine touchdowns, which ranked 95th, 43rd, and ninth, respectively. Those numbers represent the fifth-year wideout's best NFL season, although he had one more catch during his rookie campaign. Talent and production aren't Bateman's biggest problems, though. Last season was his best campaign because it was the first time he played in all 17 games. He was available for 12, six, and 16 games during his first three seasons. Advertisement The injury concerns aside, this was probably a smart deal for the Ravens. The team has a WR1 in Zay Flowers and made an interesting veteran acquisition this Spring by bringing in DeAndre Hopkins. So, there will be little pressure on Bateman and he can continue to put up solid numbers in the background. What this Rashon Bateman trade/contract extension scenario illustrates most, though, is the growing value of WR2s in the league. With top wideouts now regularly making over $30 million per season, the value of proven commodities who will produce at $10-$12 million per year has gone up. That is what the 2021 first-round pick found out on the open market, and the Ravens found out before they opened their checkbook and wrote a big fat check to Batman. Related: Rising Baltimore Ravens rookie turning heads in 2025 OTAs Related: Ravens in early stages of Lamar Jackson contract extension talks
USA Today
08-06-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Patriots' interest in Ravens WR could mean team isn't done adding help
Patriots' interest in Ravens WR could mean team isn't done adding help The New England Patriots were reportedly among the teams interested in trading for Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Rashod Bateman, before he signed a three-year, $36.75 million extension with the Ravens. That could hint that the Patriots aren't done adding to their wide receivers room, even though they currently have 12 receivers on the roster. Bateman is coming off a career season with the Ravens after recording 45 catches for 756 yards and nine touchdowns last season. He proved to be an impact playmaker, averaging 16.8 yards per catch. 'So this is fascinating. What led to [Bateman's] contract extension was that he was almost traded during this offseason because he went to the Ravens, wanted a new deal," ESPN's Jeremy Fowler said on NFL Live. "They essentially said no, but they gave him permission to seek a trade so he went out on the open market and talked with teams. "And I was told there were several involved or had interest—[Dallas] Cowboys, New England Patriots, Green Bay Packers. So he saw he had a market. The Ravens saw that and said, 'Okay, we'll just pay you instead. We won't trade you.'" If the Patriots showed interest in Bateman, would they show interest in another wide receiver ahead of the 2025 season? It makes you wonder if they'd consider giving the Washington Commanders a call on veteran wideout Terry McLaurin, who is unhappy with his current deal. If anything, this proves the Patriots are still looking to be aggressive if the right opportunity presents itself. Follow Patriots Wire on Twitter and Facebook.
