Packers rumors: Rashod Bateman the weapon fans have been waiting for?
The Green Bay Packers have often turned their nose up at wide receivers early in the NFL Draft but that might be about to change thanks to Rashod Bateman.
Many things about the way the Green Bay Packers have operated in recent years have likely frustrated fans. However, they’ve not been more vocal about any of those things than they have about the fact that the front office has seemingly refused to get Aaron Rodgers and Davante Adams a viable second option in the passing offense. Rashod Bateman could be the player to change that in the 2021 NFL Draft, however.
One day prior to the start of the draft on Thursday, Jeremy Fowler and Dan Graziano of ESPN (subscription required) released some draft-related buzz and tidbits. Among them was the fact that the Packers have done “a lot of research” on the Minnesota wide receiver and would be interested in taking him in the first round.
That’s probably music to the ears of the Green Bay faithful who have long expressed the desire for a viable No. 2 option with Adams, which Bateman would be. Though the Golden Gophers offense was, unfortunately, a bit of a mess in 2020, he showed the previous season that he’s a versatile pass-catcher who, although not the greatest athlete, can burn defenses at any level of the field with his savvy, body control, footwork and terrific hands.
Pairing that type of young player with Adams would be fantastic. The only question is if Bateman would actually make it to the 29th overall pick.
Rashod Bateman would be a beautiful fit on the Packers but he may not be there with the 29th pick.
Considering that Bateman is widely considered either the fourth or fifth-best wide receiver in the 2021 NFL Draft class, if Green Bay wants the Minnesota product, it could be tricky trying to get him.
As the top-three wide receivers — Ja’Marr Chase, Jaylen Waddle, DeVonta Smith — are expected to be off the board with the top 15/16 picks, that leaves multiple teams that could use a receiver such as the Bears, Colts, Titans and Ravens, among others, picking ahead of the Packers that could all use and be interested in Bateman.
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Subsequently, if Green Bay is 100 percent sold on Bateman being their guy — which, it should be said, is not what’s being reported — then they would have to move up the board to get him. Are the Packers willing to do that? We’ll likely have to wait until Thursday to find the answer to that question.