Cowboys Reportedly Expressed Interested in Trading for Rashod Bateman
Last week, the Dallas Cowboys traded for Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver George Pickens. But prior to landing Pickens, the Cowboys sought out Ravens wide receiver Rashod Bateman, according to FOX Sports' Jordan Schultz.
According to Schultz, the talks, which happened before the 2025 NFL Draft, "didn't go far."
Not trading Bateman was a wise decision, according to Sports Illustrated’s Jon Alfano.
"It's a good thing that the talks with Dallas didn't get very far, because there is no reason why Baltimore should consider trading Bateman any time soon," Alfano wrote. "Yes, the 2021 first-round pick from Minnesota had a slow start to his career, catching just 93 passes for 1,167 yards and four touchdowns over his first three seasons. The important part is that he's here now, though, and with 45 receptions for 756 yards and nine touchdowns last season, he's an excellent fit as a No. 2 receiver in Baltimore's offense."
The trade for Pickens was a 2026 third-round pick and a 2027 sixth-round selection for a player with one year left on his contract and who will be looking for a hefty contract. Alfano cites Bateman's deal as another reason for keeping Bateman.
"Last offseason, the 25-year-old signed a two-year, $12.9 million extension to keep him in Baltimore through the 2026 season, which many questioned at the time, but now looks like a bargain," Alfano wrote. "He currently ranks 45th among receivers in terms of average value, which is more than fair given his production, and will look even better if he continues to improve. The Ravens shutting down the Cowboys' trade offer is a good sign, because if another team comes calling, they should do the exact same thing."
Sizing Up Ravens' Roster Needs Following Rookie Camp
The Ravens' three-day rookie camp has completed, and Baltimore Positive’s Luke Jones shared notes on each position regarding the current roster. Here are a few of the noteworthy breakdowns:
Quarterback
"While [Cooper] Rush is the top backup, Baltimore refraining from drafting a late-round quarterback or signing an undrafted one to this point bodes well for [Devin] Leary continuing his development this summer and remaining on the practice squad. Given Jackson's sporadic attendance at last year's voluntary OTAs, signing another quarterback remains possible if not likely."
Inside linebacker
"The fourth-round rookie [Teddye] Buchanan pushing for the starting weak-side job wouldn't be surprising, but you'd also expect the Ravens to explore adding a veteran to that mix for more depth at the very least. Still, DeCosta is hoping the 2023 third-round investment in [Trenton] Simpson finally pays off at a position that probably won't be on the field as much in passing situations."
Defensive line
"Though the sixth-round selection of [Aeneas] Peebles provides an interesting interior pass-rushing option, the most glaring remaining need on the roster is a run-stopping defensive tackle to add to the rotation. That's not to say Baltimore can't address that between now and the start of the season, but not doing so in the draft was somewhat surprising."
Draft Analyst Breaks Down Favorite Prospects for Ravens
The Ravens' prospects finished rookie minicamp, but analysts are far from done discussing the players they saw over hours of film and how they'll mesh with their new NFL team.
The 33rd Team's James Foster joined "The Banner Ravens Podcast" to talk about his favorite picks by the Ravens and what fans should know and expect from them.
OLB Mike Green
"I think Mike Green was the second-best pass rusher in this class. Really checks every box in terms of speed, explosiveness, bend, very skilled with his hands, has a power profile. You want to see the bull rush get a little bit more consistent but his violence into contact – he can create some knock back and push the pocket. Just a relentless motor, I think that's one of the things that stands out about Mike Green. … Him getting to the quarterback is kind of just an inevitable fact. It just depends on how long the quarterback holds onto the ball."
LB Teddye Buchanan
"Teddye Buchanan was one of my guys in this class, especially in coverage. He plays zone coverage at an NFL level. When you watch all these college linebackers, they're in such specialized schemes, like a lot of them aren't really taking deep zone drops… With Teddye Buchanan, he really understands how much depth he needs to get, he can have his eyes on the quarterback and anticipate routes that are developing behind him. End zone coverage, he understands when a dig is breaking behind him and he needs to slide over to get in front of the passing lane.
CB Bilhal Kone, Robert Longerbeam
"Two defensive backs I really liked. Longerbeam is undersized but incredibly explosive. He has that closing burst – like a lot of his pass breakups this year, it's from off-coverage. The receiver gets his hands on it initially but he's able to come in at the last second and rake the ball out. Kone is just well balanced. Good size and length. He can run. Good instincts in coverage… A really smart, well-rounded player. Put out his best tape against his best competition: Ohio State and Wisconsin. Those were two of his better games."
