Vikings

Rashod Bateman Is This Year’s Justin Jefferson

Photo Credit: Jesse Johnson (USA TODAY Sports)

At this time last year, Justin Jefferson was a polarizing draft prospect. Even though he put up astronomical stats at LSU, draft experts wondered if Jefferson was more than just a slot receiver. Even with a sterling athletic profile, he slid to the 22nd pick in the NFL Draft.

The Minnesota Vikings were thrilled with the way Jefferson’s draft process played out. But it’s an example of how sometimes we can overthink draft prospects instead of acknowledging their strengths. As we enter this year’s class, Rashod Bateman has a chance to be that prospect.

Everyone in the Twin Cities knows he’s an elite receiver. He and Tyler Johnson tore up the Gophers’ record books, posting 147 catches for 2,395 yards and 19 touchdowns in three seasons at the University of Minnesota.

Bateman’s biggest season came in 2019, when he caught 60 passes for 1,219 yards and 11 touchdowns while winning the Big Ten’s Receiver of the Year award as a sophomore. His numbers entering the draft could have been better if it weren’t for the pandemic-influenced 2020 season, but Bateman has shown enough to be considered one of the best receivers in the draft.

His route-running is elite. While most of Bateman’s production came as a deep threat in 2019, he showed an ability to get open off the line. Matt Waldman noted this in his scouting portfolio, examining Bateman’s performance against Georgia Southern’s Kindle Vildor, who eventually was drafted by the Chicago Bears.

Waldman also went on to explain that Bateman’s success was independent of Johnson’s presence and has the toolbox to become a top receiver in the NFL.

“Johnson was an excellent college player, but Bateman is by far the best prospect of the two and arguably the best prospect on the team for the past three years,” Waldman said. “Bateman has the speed to win anywhere on the field, and his coordination around the football is NFL-caliber.”

Bateman put his speed and coordination on display in a wonky 2020 season, catching 36 balls for 472 yards and two touchdowns. Although Bateman opted out after five games, he showed enough to be a No. 1 receiver according to NFL Network’s Bucky Brooks.

“I think I’m beginning to have a crush on him,” Brooks told Pro Football Focus. “When I look at him, I see flashes of Michael Thomas. I see A.J. Brown. I see the classic traditional No. 1 receiver that may not necessarily be the burner, but they get open, they catch 50/50 balls, they have enough physicality and running skills to make things happen when they get in the open field. And that is traditionally what you want from your No. 1 receiver.”

The reference to Thomas and Brown is interesting. Despite productive college careers, Brown and Thomas slipped to the second round due to various factors, including age, lack of volume, and speed. The same thing happened to D.K. Metcalf. In 2019 he blew up at the NFL combine but fell to the 64th overall pick in the draft.

Bateman’s speed has created some consternation among draft prognosticators. While he was described as “more quick than fast” in Brown’s scouting report, Bateman responded by posting a 4.39-second 40-yard dash at the Exos combine earlier this month. By comparison, Brown ran the 40 in 4.49 seconds, and Jefferson ran it in 4.43 seconds.

Still, it may not be enough to keep Bateman from slipping in the draft. Despite Jefferson’s production and draft profile, Jerry Jeudy and CeeDee Lamb appeared to be a tier above Jefferson coming into the league. And the Philadelphia Eagles famously took Jalen Reagor one pick ahead of Jefferson.

This year, there appear to be two elite receiver prospects: Ja’Marr Chase and Devonta Smith. Alabama’s Jaylen Waddle could also go ahead of Bateman. For Jefferson, falling to 22 became a springboard for a rookie of the year campaign. It’s unlikely that Bateman will eclipse the 1,400 yards Jefferson put up with the Vikings, but he could be this draft’s most underrated prospect.

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