In early June, the Baltimore Ravens signed wide receiver Rashod Bateman to a three-year, $36.75 million extension that includes $20 million guaranteed. In 2024, Bateman posted the best numbers of his career, recording 45 receptions for 756 yards and nine touchdowns.
But heading into this offseason, there was uncertainty about Bateman’s future with the franchise, especially with veteran DeAndre Hopkins joining the roster and Bateman taking on more of a secondary role in the offense. He spoke about how the negotiations with the team went and opened up about how the process unfolded.
Rashod Bateman Explains How Contract Negotiations Developed With the Baltimore Ravens
In 2024, Baltimore had one of its best offenses of the Lamar Jackson era, especially with the addition of running back Derrick Henry to the system. The combination of a dual-threat quarterback and one of the best running backs of the decade turned the offense into a matchup nightmare for defenses, which created opportunities for the team’s passing game to evolve.
Receivers like Zay Flowers and Bateman had their best seasons, alongside Jackson’s best passing season so far. Bateman didn’t lead the team in receiving yards, but he carved out a specialized role by scoring nine touchdowns and making a decisive impact in several games.
Rashod Bateman wants to flip the script in Baltimore.
“I wanted to flip that narrative of receivers here… I definitely think we’re on the right track.”
▪️ Coming off a career-best season (756 yards, 9 TDs)
▪️ 90 yards + 2 TDs in the playoffs
▪️ Taking in tips from DeAndre… pic.twitter.com/3nHQgumG2C— Ravens Nation 𝙇𝙄𝙑𝙀 (@LIVERavenNation) June 22, 2025
This performance reignited the franchise’s desire to keep the homegrown player, who had not had an efficient start in his first three seasons. Bateman spoke about the negotiations on the Ravens’ “The Lounge” podcast and opened up about how the process is inevitably stressful for any athlete.
“It was stressful from a personal standpoint, just because, you know, not anything to do with the Ravens or anything like that,” Bateman said. “It’s just like, you just never know what’s going to happen. Your career, your life is up in the air, you might have to move, or however that looks or works out, but, you know, had good conversations back and forth, and there’s only so much we can say, but it all went well, and we got it done.”
Bateman said he wanted to stay in Baltimore and made that clear to general manager Eric DeCosta as soon as the talks began, which helped negotiations move in a direction that made sense for both the franchise and the player. The three-year contract gives Bateman stability and keeps an ascending receiver in the rotation for the Ravens, someone who plays an important role in the offense.
Reactions to Bateman’s new contract were mixed, with some fans supporting the team’s decision to keep a player already familiar with the system, while others felt the deal was too expensive for a receiver who has yet to produce the numbers typically expected from a first-round pick.
Bateman is currently expected to start the year as the Ravens’ No. 2 wide receiver on the depth chart, behind Flowers and ahead of Hopkins. The offense also features three-time Pro Bowler Mark Andrews as a top target in the passing game and relies on the run game as its main offensive weapon.
