Ravens reward Rashod Bateman with life-changing decision that few NFL teams ever make

The news came out this morning that Bateman would be getting his second new contract in as many off-seasons, a reward for a strong performance in 2024. Bateman set a career high in snaps, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns in 2024 despite only catching 45 passes and playing in the NFL's second-least high volume passing attack. 

Bateman shares the wide receiver room with a couple of other prominent targets, Zay Flowers and DeAndre Hopkins. The name value of the other two receivers may surpass Bateman's reputation, but talent hasn't been the issue for the 27th overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. Bateman missed time early in his career but Baltimore has stayed patient with his development, buying themselves some more wiggle room with last year's two-year, $12.8 million extension that pushed the Ravens' control of his services to the end of 2026. 

That contract is now stacked with three more years of control beyond 2026. It is, admittedly, an unconventional move. It isn't often that you see contract extensions granted with multiple years left on a deal given out the year prior, yet that's exactly how the Ravens played their hand here. 

It's life-changing money for Bateman and he's now under contract through the end of the 2029 season. The motivation here for Baltimore is likely the price point long-term. There's a swelling of cost at the position and some of the names signing on the open market this offseason for similar money have lesser production and pedigree to Bateman. 

Wide receivers signed for similar APY (annual per year) in 2025

- Giants WR Darius Slayton: $12 million per year
- Jaguars WR Dyami Brown: $10 million per year
- Bills WR Josh Palmer: $10 million per year
- Rams WR Tutu Atwell: $10 million per year

This market rate for Bateman, plus what is now five years of cost control for Baltimore, is appealing for a talented player who may have more to give. The surprise is simply that Bateman got the double dip of contract extensions in back to back seasons and that he was the first domino to fall for Baltimore in this timeframe. 

It's a win for Bateman and it's a win for the Ravens because of the duration he's now locked in and cost controlled at a fair rate. Those are the best kinds of deals — when both parties can walk away feeling like winners. Few do it better than general manager Eric DeCosta, whose investment in Bateman back in 2021 is looking better and better with time.