2021 NFL mock draft: Rashod Bateman projected to Chiefs in first round

Minnesota receiver Rashod Bateman is projected to go to the Chiefs in the latest NFL mock draft from CBS Sports.

The latest NFL mock draft from CBS Sports was just released, and the Kansas City Chiefs offense is going to remain an unstoppable weapon for the next few years if writer Ryan Wilson is right about the potential projection of Minnesota wide receiver Rashod Bateman to the Chiefs in the first round.

In our latest look at potential NFL draft scenarios, the Chiefs offense will remain a young, dynamic unit with numerous mouths to feed with the addition of Bateman. It might seem like an embarrassment of riches, but Wilson states his reasoning for going with the pick and he’s not wrong. “Yes, the Chiefs have Tyreek Hill and Mecole Hardman, but Sammy Watkins and Demarcus Robinson are free agents and Andy Reid can never have enough explosive offensive weapons.”

To break it down a little further, Watkins is almost certainly done in K.C. given that he restructured his deal to stay for this season. He was cost prohibitive coming into the year, yet he wanted to remain in K.C. He’s been an incredibly valuable contributor in the postseason and a great physical target when available, but therein lies the issue. Watkins missed two games last year, six in 2018, and he’s been shelved for the last three starts in 2020 due to various injuries.

As for Robinson, he was brought back on a single-year contract to help “run it back,” with the Chiefs inclined to bring back as many starters and key performers as they could from their very first Super Bowl in five decades.

Without those players, the Chiefs are reliant upon the deep speed threats like Hill and Hardman. Hill is a well-rounded weapon who can be utilized anywhere on the field, but teams will be able to bracket him or blanket him and take him out of the game plan if the Chiefs look thin elsewhere. What would be lacking in 2021 is a physical X who can move the  chains and serve in that same capacity as Watkins at this point.

Bateman is the ideal candidate here. It would give the team a top flight receiver in case Hill is ever injured (or if he declines as he ages). Bateman had 60 catches for 1,219 yards and 11 touchdowns last season, showing off incredible production for the Gophers in 2019. Chiefs fans are used to watching Watkins gain yards after the catch as a physical runner who can make the contested catch and break or even elude tackles. Bateman can do all of that.

The Chiefs have other areas of need, but Brett Veach showed last draft that he’s going to keep adding fuel on the fire that is the offense. Bateman not only addresses a need, but gives them a cost-controlled talent at a position that’s gotten very pricey. This projection could be an ideal match.