Baltimore Ravens Star Wide Receiver Reveals How Close He Was To Getting Traded To The Dallas Cowboys

Wide receiver Rashod Bateman got the contract he wanted his offseason, but it almost never happened.

Last month, according to ESPN, Bateman signed a three-year contract extension with the Baltimore Ravens worth $36.75 million, with $20 million guaranteed.

It turns out that he was almost a member of the Dallas Cowboys. A report in May said the Cowboys looked into trading for Bateman, and now he is confirming that news.

The Dallas Cowboys reportedly looked elsewhere in the AFC North before landing a trade with the Pittsburgh Steelers to acquire wide receiver George Pickens.

Per reports from NFL on FOX insider Jordan Schultz, the Cowboys “looked” into trading for Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Rashod Bateman.

“Sources: During their pursuit of a receiver, the Cowboys also looked into a trade for Ravens WR Rashod Bateman,” Schultz wrote on X at the time.

Bateman said “it was a possibility” that he would be on the move to Dallas before he and the Ravens decided to finally give him an extension.

Bateman said he’s “thankful” that General Manager Eric DeCosta was able to work things out.

“That’s the first thing I told him: 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,'” Rashod Bateman said, via Jeff Zrebiec of TheAthletic.com.

“It took time, but it takes time with a lot of people’s contracts. He had a lot of contracts to get done, and maybe more to get done in the future. To be a priority for him in that way is important. He shows he values me.”

Rashod Bateman Had A Breakout Season In 2024

It’s not hard to see why the Dallas Cowboys had their eyes on Rashod Bateman.

The 25-year-old has gone from being an underachieving 2021 first-round pick to the best deep threat for the NFL’s No. 1 offense in 2024.

He was the only player in the NFL last season to average over 16 yards per reception and catch at least nine touchdown passes.

The 27th overall pick in the 2021 draft had a career year.

As the No. 2 wide receiver behind Flowers, Bateman recorded career highs with 756 receiving yards and nine touchdown catches.

Also Read: Social Media Detectives Have ID’d The Female Ravens Fan Who Was Spotted Getting Freaky In The Stands During TNF (VIDEO + PICS)