Happy that the Ravens are banking on them, Zay Flowers and Rashod Bateman are paying dividends.
The talented first-round draft picks are playing the best football of their young careers heading into Baltimore's Week 7 matchup against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Flowers had a career-high 132 receiving yards during the Ravens' 30-23 victory over the Washington Commanders, dominating the first half with nine catches. Bateman was also a major weapon with a season-high 71 yards receiving, making four catches for the second consecutive game.
There were rumors the Ravens might be interested in veteran wide receiver Davante Adams before the Las Vegas Raiders traded Adams to the New York Jets on Monday. However, instead of worrying about hearsay, Flowers and Bateman focused on producing highlights.
Rewarded with a new contract during the offseason, Bateman feels as healthy and happy as he ever has, and he's blocking out any potential distractions.
"It feels good, but there's a lot that goes into things besides me and Zay and how we play," Bateman said. "I don't want to say that me and Zay are the reason why it (trade for Adams) didn't happen. But the Ravens do believe in us. I think they've proven that. And I think we've proven that we believe in ourselves and our teammates believe in us.
"Me and Zay always say that whatever opportunities come our way, we've got to make sure we capitalize on them. I know Zay had back-to-back 100-yard games, but we may not always see that in our offense. That's nobody's fault. We just want to do whatever we can to help the team win. We're ready whenever our number is called, and we've been showing out."
Bateman and Flowers share a close relationship, providing support for each other as two receivers blossoming in the same organization. In a positive way, they're also competitive. Flowers is often the first player to congratulate Bateman when he makes a catch, but Flowers also wants a piece of the action.
"When I look across and I see 'Bate' run a nasty route or burn somebody, I'm like, 'Oh hell yeah, I've got to get me one,'" Flowers said laughing. "I feel like 'Bate' does the same thing when I catch one.
"I know 'Bate' is special – I'm seeing the same things I've seen since the time I got here. I was expecting him to do that last year, but we're so deep, it's hard for just any one player to get off consistently. We've got good tight ends, good [running] backs, every position we have is complete. We just wait for our number to be called."
Drafted in 2021, Bateman was hampered by injuries in his first two seasons and had to stay mentally strong through difficult times. Finally healthy during this past offseason, Bateman was able to train hard and work on his craft all summer.
He's enjoying the fruits of his labor with 17 catches for 273 yards and two touchdowns this season, earning a reputation as one of the NFL's best route runners. Bateman has the NFL's second-highest separation percentage among wide receivers, per Pro Football Focus.
"It just a product of work ethic and being able to be on the field," Bateman said. "But I've been getting open, and when you get the targets, opinions start to change. I was hindered by injuries. I wasn't able to showcase what I could do."
"I don't care if I'm in Year 4 with a contract extension. In my head, this is my rookie year. I'm young, I'm 24. Knowing me and my work ethic, I'm going to continue to get better and I'm excited to see what the future holds."
Bateman said he received sound advice from former Ravens wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. on dealing with injuries and criticism.
"Odell said, 'I am who I am,'" Bateman said. "I have a deep understanding of that. The outside world can say what they want. Your peers, your family, the people you work for. It doesn't matter. As long as you know what you're capable of, nobody can take that away from you.
With 11 games left in the regular season, the Ravens have the league's top-ranked offense and are hurting opponents via the run or pass. Lamar Jackson is having another potential MVP season, and his chemistry with Flowers and Bateman has never looked better.
Bateman and Flowers hope to be teammates for a long time, helping the Ravens win championships as two receivers who grew together in the same organization. But Bateman is staying in the present, taking each week and opportunity as it comes. With the Ravens riding a four-game winning streak, he likes the way the offense is trending, and thinks the best is yet to come.
"I feel like we're in a flow," Bateman said. "I wouldn't be able to do what I've done without Zay. He wouldn't do what he does without Derrick Henry. And none of us would be able to do it without Lamar.
"A lot of people stat watch, but we're all doing what we can to elevate the team. I think you're starting to see it across the league now – teams having a tandem of talented young receivers. Hopefully we can start building that with Lamar. It's fun. We push it's other. Zay's my bro, I'm his bro. Me and Zay are out there having fun, and we definitely believe in our wide receiver room against anybody."
