The Texans took a look at Rashod Bateman, and that’s the kind of detail that gets attention fast in Baltimore.
According to Aaron Wilson of KPRC2, Houston has been making exploratory trade calls and Bateman was one of the receivers on the list. The Texans were also said to have interest in New England’s Kayshon Boutte, while a reunion with DeAndre Hopkins is not expected. Houston, per a league source, would ideally want a bigger receiver if it adds outside help.
Bateman’s name carrying into that discussion comes with obvious baggage. News of his June arrest for an alleged family violence incident in Georgia had already cast a shadow over any trade chatter. Still, the 26-year-old was on Houston’s radar after second-round pick Jayden Higgins went down with a torn ACL last week.
Whether the Texans would have seriously pursued Bateman is another question entirely. A potential suspension under the NFL’s personal conduct policy could have made the idea a non-starter. And even if Baltimore were open to moving him, the Ravens may not be eager to part with the 2021 first-round pick right now.
Bateman is coming off career-low production almost everywhere you look, but his role has clearly shifted. In Declan Doyle’s new offense, he has looked more alive in a wider set of responsibilities, including plenty of time in the slot.
He also remains on a team-friendly deal for a WR2. If rookie wideouts Ja’Kobi Lane and Elijah Sarratt both emerge this season, Bateman could become a trade chip next offseason.
Kyle Hamilton also showed up on another list worth noting. In The Athletic’s ranking of the NFL’s best players under 25, Hamilton was included after another big season. Year 4 brought his second straight 100-tackle campaign, and the two-time first-team All-Pro continues to stand out for the way he covers ground as a deep safety and then slides into the slot to handle receivers.
Pro Football Focus also had plenty to say about the Ravens, and the outlook came with both a boost and a warning.
On the optimistic side, Gordon McGuinness pointed to the offensive direction under Doyle, who learned under Sean Payton and Ben Johnson. That background suggests more three-receiver sets and plenty of motion.
McGuinness also noted that Lamar Jackson closed last season on a strong run, posting a 91.4 PFF overall grade over his final four games. That followed a 2024 season in which Jackson earned a 94.0 PFF overall grade and finished with a 41-to-4 touchdown-to-interception ratio.
There was plenty to like defensively, too. McGuinness wrote that Jesse Minter replacing John Harbaugh would bring a fresh voice at the top and could help a defense that has struggled in recent years.
Minter’s Chargers defense finished in the NFL’s top 10 in expected points added allowed in each of the past two seasons. McGuinness also highlighted Hendrickson as a major pass-rush addition, noting that he has posted a PFF pass-rush grade above 90.0 in each of the past three seasons.
No Ravens edge defender has done that since Elvis Dumervil in 2013.
The concern from PFF centered on the interior offensive line. Vega Ioane and John Simpson were described as upgrades over Daniel Faalele and Andrew Vorhees, but Ioane’s lack of NFL experience could mean some growing pains.
Baltimore also lost center Tyler Linderbaum to the Raiders in free agency. Pocic was brought in to help, but McGuinness still viewed him as a step down from a player who ranked fifth among all centers in PFF overall grade last season.
In Other News...
Ravens Suddenly Have A Much Bigger Receiver Problem Than Expected
The Ravens were already navigating questions about their receiver room, and Rashod Batemans situation only adds another layer of uncertainty. Baltimore has spent draft capital trying to find more help at the position, but the offense still has been searching for a true difference-maker to pair with its core and give the passing game more consistent juice.
Now Bateman is facing three family violence charges in Georgia, and the NFL is investigating the matter, leaving the team to weigh a legal issue on top of the usual concerns about his health, performance and fit. For a receiver group that was already under the microscope, the timing makes the broader problem feel even more urgent, and it leaves Baltimore waiting to see how much of its plan at the position can actually hold together. [Read more 🡒]
Ravens Rookie Is Forcing A Real Slot Corner Conversation
Chandler Rivers kept making the kind of plays that force a coaching staff to take a closer look. In the Ravens Week 2 preseason game, the fifth-round rookie cornerback was active everywhere, finishing with five combined tackles, 0.5 sacks and a pass breakup while flashing the kind of versatility that can matter in a crowded secondary.
Pro Football Focus noticed it too, grading Rivers at 84.6 overall with a 90.0 mark in coverage. For Baltimore, the bigger takeaway is how quickly he has entered the conversation for a rotational spot, especially in the slot, where the Ravens are still sorting out who can handle that job consistently. [Read more 🡒]
Ravens Rookie Receivers Just Faced A Real Test In This WR Battle
JaKobi Lane and Elijah Sarratt have spent Ravens training camp and the preseason trying to turn promise into something more concrete, and both got another chance to show where they fit in the receiver mix during Baltimores win over the Minnesota Vikings. Neither rookie was a headline-grabber in that game, but the bigger picture remains encouraging for a pair of young pass catchers still working to earn trust in an offense that values every useful target it can find.
Lane was on the field for 17 offensive snaps and finished with one catch, while Sarratt played six snaps and also came away with one reception. For a pair of rookies in a crowded evaluation period, the lack of production was a reminder that opportunities are still limited, but Baltimore has seen enough from both to keep them in the conversation as potential contributors when the chances become more consistent. [Read more 🡒]