RandBall: Gophers 2021 draft buzz: Rashod Bateman possible No. 1 overall pick?

BleedGopher

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per RandBall:

The NFL draft is barely a week in the rearview mirror and is about the furthest thing away on annual sports calendars from happening again, so naturally we’re talking now about … the NFL draft?

Yes, I’ve largely ignored all the 2021 draft projections. But now more than ever, anything with a local angle and on-field focus tends to catch my eye.

So here’s something: The site Foxbet.com created a prop bet with odds on the most likely No. 1 overall pick in 2021. The clear favorite, of course, is Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence.

But 30 players are listed in all. And down toward the long shots, you’ll find a very familiar name: Gophers wide receiver Rashod Bateman, at 100 to 1 odds.

Wait, you might be thinking. Didn’t Tyler Johnson, the Gophers’ other star receiver in 2019, just get drafted in the fifth round? What gives?

Well, Bateman has the size (6-2, 200-plus pounds), hands and big-play ability to attract more NFL chatter (even though I think Johnson was a steal for Tampa Bay and will be a very good pro).

He’s been termed a “dark horse” to be the first receiver taken next year and has shown up as a possible first-round selection on some of those “way-too-early” 2021 mock drafts I’ve been trying to avoid.


Go Gophers!!
 

per RandBall:

The NFL draft is barely a week in the rearview mirror and is about the furthest thing away on annual sports calendars from happening again, so naturally we’re talking now about … the NFL draft?

Yes, I’ve largely ignored all the 2021 draft projections. But now more than ever, anything with a local angle and on-field focus tends to catch my eye.

So here’s something: The site Foxbet.com created a prop bet with odds on the most likely No. 1 overall pick in 2021. The clear favorite, of course, is Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence.

But 30 players are listed in all. And down toward the long shots, you’ll find a very familiar name: Gophers wide receiver Rashod Bateman, at 100 to 1 odds.

Wait, you might be thinking. Didn’t Tyler Johnson, the Gophers’ other star receiver in 2019, just get drafted in the fifth round? What gives?

Well, Bateman has the size (6-2, 200-plus pounds), hands and big-play ability to attract more NFL chatter (even though I think Johnson was a steal for Tampa Bay and will be a very good pro).

He’s been termed a “dark horse” to be the first receiver taken next year and has shown up as a possible first-round selection on some of those “way-too-early” 2021 mock drafts I’ve been trying to avoid.


Go Gophers!!

Yeah, there's no way he goes first -- QB and "Edge" are too important these days -- but he keeps creeping up boards and is almost a sure first rounder if he posts similar numbers to this year. He's the prototypical NFL WR.
 

0% chance he goes 1 overall. It will be Lawrence barring injury. And as others mentioned it’s QB or edge rusher at the very top. Just not enough to push Bateman to #1 even though he is an absolute stud
 





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