It’s safe to assume if the Baltimore Ravens keep losing, there will be a reckoning when it comes to the roster and, possibly, even the coaching staff.
The roster overhaul would likely feature just a few players who might be considered “untouchable” — 2-time NFL MVP quarterback Lamar Jackson and NFL All-Pro safety Kyle Hamilton are the only ones who come directly to mind.
It could mean an exodus that comes before the NFL trade deadline on November 8 if the Ravens are looking to get some assets in return.
CBS Sports NFL reporter Garrett Podell put veteran Ravens wide receiver and former first round pick Rashod Bateman on his list of players NFL contenders should trade for, predicting he could be a good fit for the Los Angeles Rams.
The Ravens are fresh off a 17-3 loss to the Rams in Week 6 that dropped them to 1-5.
“With Pro Bowl wide receiver Puka Nacua suffering an ankle injury in a Week 6 win against the Baltimore Ravens, it would be wise for Los Angeles Rams general manager Les Snead to bolster quarterback Matthew Stafford’s receiving core,” Podell wrote. “Wide receiver Rashod Bateman (11 catches for 120 yards and a touchdown in six games this season) has become a forgotten man in the 1-5 Baltimore Ravens’ offense, especially with Jackson sidelined. Snead should give the Ravens a call to see if they would be willing to exchange Bateman for a pick or two.”
Bateman’s Struggles Reflect Ravens’ Struggles
While there isn’t really anyone on Baltimore’s offense who can say they’re having a great year because of how much the team is losing, Bateman seems to be having an especially tough year.
Selected at No. 21 overall in the 2021 NFL draft by the Ravens, Bateman missed 16 games due to injuries over his first 2 seasons. He had a mini-breakout season in 2024 with 45 receptions for 756 yards and 9 touchdowns while playing in every regular season game for the first time in his career.
Bateman capped the season with 6 receptions for 90 yards and 2 touchdowns in 2 playoff games.
In 2025, Bateman has just 11 receptions for 120 yards and 1 touchdown through 6 games and is fifth on the Ravens in receiving yards.
Money Could Be Problem in Bateman Trade
Bateman’s breakout season in 2024 couldn’t have come at a better time for his bank account, as he signed a 3-year, $36.75 million contract extension on June 5.
Now, it’s Bateman’s contract which probably is the biggest sticking point in any deal.
The Ravens don’t have a voidable year in Bateman’s contract until 2028 and while he only counts $4.548 million against the salary cap in 2025, that number goes up to $6.298 million in 2026 and $10.9 million in 2027.
Paying that much money for a below average WR2 option just doesn’t make sense — not for the Ravens or any other NFL team.
The better option might be to try and swap Bateman for a 2026 fifth or sixth round pick, pray the Rams or whoever else is desperate enough to pay his salary, then try to find a free agent wide receiver on a deal similar to the 1-year, $5 million contract DeAndre Hopkins is playing for them on in 2025.
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