Cincinnati Bengals: 3 new players in AFC North to worry about in 2021

Players to concern Cincinnati Bengals – No. 2: Rashod Bateman, WR (Ravens)

The Ravens had two first-round picks this year and spent the first one on Minnesota wide receiver Rashod Bateman, who had a monster year for the Golden Gophers in 2019. That was the season where Minnesota was one of the best teams in the country and Bateman is a big reason as to why.

Bateman finished that season with 60 receptions for 1,219 yards and 11 touchdowns while averaging 20.3 yards per catch. The dude was insane and had he been able to enter the draft that year, he’d have been one of the top receivers off the board.

Bateman joins a Ravens offense that finished last in the league (yes, you read that right) in passing yards last season. It’s no secret that Lamar Jackson isn’t the most polished passer, but Bateman is going to change that. The Ravens did what they could to arm Jackson with more weapons and Bateman is a very dangerous weapon.

The Bengals’ passing defense was in the bottom half of the league last year but they added cornerback help in the form of Chidobe Awuzie and Mike Hilton and will be getting Trae Waynes back from injury as well. Bateman is going to be a headache to cover but hopefully, the new Bengals secondary is up to the task.