We are in the time of the offseason when the futures of several players are headline-worthy, and for the Baltimore Ravens, there are a couple who fit into that bracket.
The most obvious one is center Tyler Linderbaum, who is set to be a free agent and one the Ravens can’t afford to lose.
But there are others who might benefit from a change, and it is here where, for some reason, ESPN’s Aaron Schatz has Ravens receiver Rashod Bateman listed as one player who could be due for a change.
“The idea that Bateman needs a change of scenery might be unexpected considering the Ravens signed him to a three-year, $36.75 million extension before the 2025 season,” Schatz wrote. “But he had a very disappointing campaign, with just 19 catches for 224 yards and two touchdowns.”
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Why Bateman change is odd
For starters, as Schatz mentioned, Bateman just signed an extension last offseason. That’s reason enough, but if we delve into the numbers, it looks even worse.
The Ravens won’t cut Bateman because, per Over The Cap, a cut pre-June 1 would see the franchise eat $14 million in dead money, and a post-June 1 cut sees them eat $9 million in dead money.
Which leaves a trade as the most logical option, but who is trading for Bateman?
Will there be a long list of teams lining up to secure his services? Possibly, but the most likely scenario is Rashod stays put because it makes sense, both from a football and financial standpoint.
