2021 NFL Mock Draft: Zach Wilson rises to Jets at No. 2 in 3-round projection

One of the cleanest route-runners in the collegiate game, Rashod Bateman is exactly what the Baltimore Ravens offense needs. They have tight ends who can make an impact, led by Mark Andrews. They have a deep-threat wide receiver in Marquise Brown who can be a pain for opposing teams when he gets past the secondary.

They also have more running backs than they know what to do with — and their former NFL MVP quarterback can also run the ball with the best of them in the sport. What they lack, is a big-bodied wideout who can run a full route tree and win when thrown the 50-50 ball.

This is why a player such as Bateman makes perfect sense. He burst onto the scene as a freshman for the Gophers, recording 704 yards and six touchdowns on 51 receptions. That was a mere warm-up, however, for his sophomore campaign which saw him gain 20.3 yards per reception on 60 catches. Bateman finished with 1,219 yards and 11 touchdowns that season, which made him one of the top prospects to watch in 2020.

He ended up playing just five games though that season, electing to prepare for the draft as he exercised caution with the COVID-19 pandemic. He ended with 472 yards and two touchdowns this season in those five appearances and should have no problem developing into a No. 1 threat for Baltimore.