Cleveland Browns: Minnesota WR Rashod Bateman a welcome 2021 NFL Draft target
By Cory Kinnan
Where Rashod Bateman wins
Most important for a wide receiver is their ability to catch the football. This has been an issue as of late for the Browns’ wide receivers, with even Jarvis Landry among the leaders in drops on the season. When looking at Bateman, he possesses both strong and soft hands as he high points and attacks the football at the catch-point.
He can go across the middle and make the tough catches in traffic, and he possesses smooth control of his body and awareness as he hauls in passes along the boundary as well. Bateman also remains one of the best route runners in this year’s class as well. While he is not the best athlete among eligible receivers in the 2021 NFL Draft, he wins with his technique, smooth footwork, and subtle use of his hands at the top of his routes. He has a great release off of the line of scrimmage, in order to earn a clean release and another yard or two of separation off the snap as well.
Again, while he does not possess elite deep speed, Bateman remains a solid deep threat over the top. Bateman is able to combine his route running savvy, and ability to earn a clean release with his ability to work back over the top of the defender and stack them, prohibiting the defensive back from both making a play on the football over the top, but also from getting a read and jumping a broken off route.
He tracks balls extremely well down the field, and uses those strong hands to haul in passes at every level of the field. There are obviously more than enough reasons for the Browns to be interested in him this upcoming April.