Ravens WRs Poised To 'Flip That Narrative' After Major Signings

Last season, Zay Flowers became the first Baltimore Ravens wide receiver ever to be selected to the Pro Bowl. The honor was rightfully deserved as the second-year pro surpassed 1,000 receiving yards as quarterback Lamar Jackson's top target.

Flowers is joined by a collection of impactful receivers on the Ravens' offense. Rashod Bateman and veteran DeAndre Hopkins each signed new contracts this offseason. There's also versatile tight ends Mark Andrews and Isaiah Likely for Jackson to turn to in the pass game ... oh, and not to mention Derrick Henry out of the backfield.

Bateman, who is entering his fifth year with the Ravens after his 2021 first-round selection, is out to prove that Baltimore's pass game should be feared around the league.

"There's a lot of love and respect that comes with a team that drafted you and I wanted to flip that narrative of receivers here, and I definitely think we're on the right track of doing that," Bateman said via NFL.com. "Not really looking for nobody else's validation but it feels good, somewhat, to be in the midst now headed down that right track."

While the pass game was outshined by Baltimore's league-leading rushing attack, the team still finished seventh in passing offense, averaging 237.4 yards per game.

Bateman believes the addition of former All-Pro Hopkins, who signed a one-year $5 million free agent deal, will do wonders for the unit on and off the field.

"You could just definitely tell that he's been in the game a while and done a lot of great things," Bateman said of Hopkins. "A lot of people respect what he's done and what he brings to the table.

"He's done great things, so hopefully we can take that, add it to our game, add it to our personalities to go help this team. He's been good for us and I know he's going to be big for us this season."

Bateman is the most tenured wide receiver of the bunch, and he's excited to keep it that way. He signed an extension with the Ravens worth $36.7 million over the next three years.

Last season was among the best of his career, finishing with career highs in yards (756) and touchdowns (9).

Pro Bowl or not, the Ravens are equipped with plenty of weapons for Jackson through the air. At mandatory minicamp, reporters noticed something in their first glimpses of the All-Pro QB.

"He does look skinnier, quicker and faster," Bateman said. "The league is in trouble, per usual."

But don't tell Lamar that ... at least not the "skinny" part.

He joked with with media when a reporter asked about his body maintenance and pointed to his slim physique.

"Just eat food. Push ups, sit ups. That's all. Just stay in shape," Jackson said.

"Don't say 'skinny'. Say 'stay in shape'. Fit. That sounds better. Because skinny sounds like 'puny'. I don't think I'm puny. I'm still 200!"

Bateman is right, with these receivers, the league will be watching out for the Ravens' offense.

Per usual.