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Rashod Bateman of the Baltimore Ravens catches a pass for a touchdown against the Buffalo Bills in the first quarter during the AFC Divisional Playoff at Highmark Stadium.
The Dallas Cowboys had a backup option in case they couldn’t acquire George Pickens, and Baltimore Ravens fans should feel grateful the ‘Boys didn’t have to use it.
According to Ravens wideout Rashod Bateman, the Cowboys were also considering a trade for Balitmore’s first-round selection in the 2021 NFL Draft.
Bateman is about to sign a new contract with the Ravens but will enter the final year of his deal in 2025. Bateman is coming off a career year in 2024, where he set highs in receiving yards (756) and touchdowns (9).
That earned him both his new deal and some interest from other teams.
How Close Was Rashod Bateman To Being Traded To the Cowboys?
Bateman is reportedly on the verge of signing a $36.75 million contract with the Ravens. But with his contract status up in the air past this year before then, Baltimore general manager Eric DeCosta was shopping the soon-to-be fifth-year receiver.
DeCosta told Bateman the Cowboys were interested and that talks were going somewhere.
“I went through a lot of things with the Cowboys and all of that with my contract,” Bateman told The Athletic. “There was a time when I didn’t know what was going to happen. (The Cowboys talks) were a thing, for sure. It was a possibility. I don’t want to deny that. But you know, DeCosta, he’s always making magic work, and he made [the contract] work, and I’m thankful for that.”
Bateman always wanted to stay with the team that drafted him. But even though DeCosta considered a trade to Dallas — that was shut down after the Cowboys acquired Pickens from the Pittsburgh Steelers for a 2026 third-round pick in March — Bateman felt appreciated when he got his new deal.
“The first thing I told him [was] ‘I don’t want to go anywhere else. I know you’ve got a lot of stuff to work through and we’ll figure it out when we figure it out,’” Bateman said of his conversation with DeCosta. “It took time, but it takes time with a lot of people’s contracts.
To be a priority for him in that way is important. He shows he values me.”
What Else Did Rashod Bateman Say?
Bateman has been a member of this ideation of the Ravens, with superstar quarterback Lamar Jackson and their dominant defense. But he thinks Baltimore is ready to finally get over the hump in 2025.
“I think we’ve proven that we can play with anybody,” Bateman said. “We have some of the best players. I just think in the important times, in those clutch moments, all of us have to lock in and do everything right.”
The Ravens have been ousted by the Kansas City Chiefs and Buffalo Bills in consecutive seasons, and they’ll have the chance to exact revenge during the regular season — and even the postseason, potentially. Baltimore opens against the Bills in Week 1 in the season opener of Sunday Night Football.
“I don’t know if any of us are over it,” Bateman said. “We definitely have had time to digest what happened or how it went down, but we still have a sour taste in our mouths. It’s kind of crazy that we open up the season with (the Bills). Hopefully, we can go up there and get our licks back.”
Pat Pickens is an experienced sports writer and media personality who has written for outlets like NHL.com, the Associated Press, the New York Times and USA Today. He covers the NFL, NBA, NHL and NBA as a breaking news contributor at Heavy. More about Pat Pickens
