Rashod Bateman Draft Projection: 5 landing spots for the Minnesota WR

As the top prospects await to hear their name called in the 2021 NFL Draft, University of Minnesota WR Rashod Bateman likely won’t be sitting around for long. A phenomenal college receiver, Rashod Bateman has one of the highest draft projections in the class and could hear his name called in Round 1.

Rashod Bateman’s 2021 NFL Draft projection

In terms of depth and talent, the wide receiver group might be the best group in the 2021 NFL Draft class. However, that does not mean there is not still a disparity of talent. In a tier amongst themselves are Ja’Marr Chase of LSU and Alabama’s DeVonta Smith. The next tier down is where things get interesting. Next off the board will be Jaylen Waddle 90% of the time in the mid-first round. 

After this, the next WR off the board is a toss-up between LSU’s Terrace Marshall Jr. and Minnesota’s Rashod Bateman. I would not be surprised to see either end up having the rookie class’s most productive season in Year 1. As of right now, Bateman has the edge over Marshall on most big boards, including PFN’s Chief Draft Analyst and Insider Tony Pauline’s.

Based on current projections, Bateman is firmly inside Round 1 of the NFL Draft and could push as high as a mid-round selection. His freshman and sophomore seasons set new Gopher records, and he finished his three-year career with 147 receptions, 2,395 yards, and 19 touchdowns. 

During his impressive outing at Minnesota’s Pro Day, Bateman revealed he tested positive for COVID-19 early in the year and never got back to full health during the season. With that behind him, Bateman is ready to take the NFL by storm and make an impact from Day 1. The only question is, which jersey will he be wearing?

Best landing spots for Rashod Bateman

Who should target Bateman in Round 1 and where are his best fits?

Tennessee Titans

I think this is one of the most realistic landing spots for Bateman and possibly one of the best. After the Titans gave Ryan Tannehill a $118 million contract in 2020, he comes into 2021 with an all-new group of pass catchers.

With Corey Davis now a Jet and Jonnu Smith in New England, the Titans lost players who accounted for 56.6% of their intended air yards and 47% of the touchdowns. This includes 48.3% of the production inside the 10-yard line.

No question A.J. Brown is the team’s alpha and should see 125+ targets this season, but the WR2 role is up for grabs. While the Titans did sign Josh Reynolds, he was never the primary option with the Los Angeles Rams. Bateman would come in and be an instant-impact receiver for the Titans. Bateman also fits right in their draft window at pick No. 22, making this a projection we see fairly often.

Chicago Bears

While Andy Dalton might be a lateral move at QB, the Bears need receiving options if they hope to succeed in 2021 and beyond. 

Allen Robinson did sign his franchise tag, but it’s unlikely they can work out a deal to keep him long-term. Behind him is Darnell Mooney, who looks like a breakout candidate for 2021. However, is he going to be capable of taking over the WR1 role next season?

The Bears need to get ahead of this before it becomes a more significant problem. Bateman did measure a bit smaller than expected at 6’0″, but his body of work is more than enough for a team to bank on him leading the WR room into the future. 

Baltimore Ravens

Baltimore has a desperate need for pass catchers. While solid, Marquise Brown and Mark Andrews are not enough to help the Ravens compete for an AFC Championship. 

Bateman would see the lowest volume here as the Ravens don’t pass very often. In fact, they have led the NFL in rushing attempts for the last four seasons. What could prove to be invaluable is spending time with Sammy Watkins. A former first-round pick, Watkins possesses a wealth of knowledge that could help speed up Bateman’s maturation process.

Green Bay Packers

At some point, they have to get Aaron Rodgers more help on the perimeter, right? While Allen Lazard has played well on the field, rarely has he been a difference-maker.

There would be no better combination of players for Bateman to learn the game from than Rodgers and Davante Adams. The pair found paydirt 18 times last season, and Bateman could take that Justin Jefferson-type leap in 2021. There would be no pressure to be the WR1, allowing him to simply play football.

New Orleans Saints

Outside of Michael Thomas, who is the next option on the Saints’ depth chart? As New Orleans heads into the post-Drew Brees era with either Jameis Winston or Taysom Hill, bringing in a talented receiver needs to be at the forefront of draft day decisions for Sean Payton.

Assuming it is Winston, Bateman could see ample opportunities during his rookie season. As the QB of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, both Mike Evans and Chris Godwin enjoyed incredible seasons thanks to Winston’s willingness to throw it up and let them make a play. Sure, he never saw double coverage he didn’t like, but Bateman has the skillset to go up and snatch the ball that is required. He is also a savvy route technician on the outside, allowing him to widen the throwing windows coming out of breaks.

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Tommy Garrett is a writer for Pro Football Network covering the NFL and fantasy football. You can read more of his work here and follow him at @TommygarrettPFN on Twitter.