Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Rashod Bateman criticized general manager Eric DeCosta Thursday over comments the front office executive made at the NFL Scouting Combine.
DeCosta was asked about the organization that drafted the right wide receivers when he took over in 2019.
«There have been some guys who have been successful players for us who were draft picks,» DeCosa said Wednesday, via Blue Wire Pods podcast host Sarah Ellison. «We’ve never really hit that type of All-Pro, which is disappointing, but it’s not for lack of effort… It’s one of those anomalies that I can’t really explain, other than to say we’re not going to stop trying.
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Baltimore Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta speaks to the media during the NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on March 1, 2023 in Indianapolis. (Justin Casterline/Getty Images)
«We’re going to keep swinging and hopefully at one of these points, we’re going to hit the ball out of the park.»
Bateman was a first-round pick in 2021, but has only played in 18 games since. Tylan Wallace was a fourth-round pick, but he hasn’t made a dent on offense. Devin Duvernay was an All-Pro on special teams as he was a third-round pick in 2020. James Proche was a sixth-round pick in 2020 and has 25 receptions for 278 yards in his career. Their 2020 picks, Marquise Brown and Miles Boykin, are no longer on the team.
Bateman shot at his own take on the Ravens’ wide receiver situation, saying the blame shouldn’t lie with the wide receiver corps or Lamar Jackson.
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Baltimore Ravens number 7 Rashod Bateman watches the Washington Commanders during the second half of a preseason game at M&T Bank Stadium on August 27, 2022 in Baltimore. (Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)
Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Rashod Bateman, #7, runs upfield as New England Patriots cornerback Jonathan Jones, #31, chases him during the fourth quarter at Gillette Stadium on September 25, 2022 in Foxborough, Massachusetts . (Adam Glanzman/Getty Images)
«[H]How about you play on your player force and stop pointing fingers at us and #8…blame whoever you let do this… We take heat 24/7. and keep us healthy…care for us and see what happens…no promises though…tired of y’all lying and cheating players for no reason,» Bateman tweeted.
The former Minnesota standout later deleted the tweet.
Baltimore has been a high-powered offense behind Jackson’s ability to run and shoot the ball. Brown was the last wide receiver to record more than 1,000 receiving yards in a single season, but he was traded to the Arizona Cardinals before the start of the 2022 season. Before that, it was Mike Wallace who had 72 catches for 1,017 yards.
Rashod Bateman, #12 of the Baltimore Ravens, reacts during the game against the Minnesota Vikings at M&T Bank Stadium on November 7, 2021 in Baltimore. (Todd Olszewski/Getty Images)
Mark Andrews also eclipsed the 1,000-yard mark as a tight end in 2021.
Baltimore will have some decisions to make regarding a lot of players, the biggest being whether the team will re-sign Jackson.
Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson, #8, drops back to pass against the Carolina Panthers at M&T Bank Stadium on November 20, 2022 in Baltimore. (Rob Carr/Getty Images)
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DeCosta said he’s still interested in signing Jackson long-term.