NFL

Ravens sign WR Rashod Bateman to three-year, $36.75 million contract extension

Death, taxes, and the Ravens having unwavering belief in Rashod Bateman. Baltimore’s trust makes sense, though, as the franchise drafted the 25-year-old in the first round in 2021. It took several years, but Bateman delivered his best season in 2024, recording 45 receptions for 756 yards and nine touchdowns. That touchdown total is a bit of an outlier — it was five more than his first three seasons’ total combined — but it illustrates the receiver’s increased importance in the Ravens’ offense.

Moving forward, Baltimore should be expecting even more. While he was a league-average receiver last year, Bateman is still only 25. This extension isn’t exactly gaudy, either, so there shouldn’t be any added pressure on the fifth-year man. The talent — and organizational belief — is there for Bateman to be a key piece to the puzzle for the Ravens’ offense in the years to come.

Grade: B-