OWINGS MILLS, Md. — Lower than two weeks from the beginning of free company, the Baltimore Ravens should reply a high-profile query: Who’s Lamar Jackson handing the ball off to in 2024?
The operating again place is amongst Baltimore’s greatest priorities this offseason. Baltimore’s two most efficient operating backs, J.Okay. Dobbins and Gus Edwards, are scheduled to be free brokers on March 13. With promising rookie Keaton Mitchell struggling an ACL tear in his left knee in December, the one wholesome skilled operating again on the roster is Justice Hill.
The NFL’s No. 1 dashing group lacks a No. 1 operating again.
“It is up within the air,” coach John Harbaugh mentioned of the operating again scenario on the mix Tuesday. “We do not have plenty of guys underneath contract proper now.”
Ravens normal supervisor Eric DeCosta mentioned on the mix that the group might want to add a few operating backs and famous that this 12 months’s operating again draft class is not as deep as different positions. So, free company is perhaps one of the simplest ways to load up the backfield.
The Ravens aren’t historically massive spenders at operating again, however there might be some well-priced gamers due to the variety of backs accessible. Baltimore could have loads of choices from big-name backs (Derrick Henry and Saquon Barkley) to under-the-radar ones (D’Andre Swift and Zack Moss) to potential wage cap cuts (maybe Nick Chubb), which the Ravens have usually favored as a result of they do not depend in opposition to a group’s compensatory picks. The Ravens have round $13 million in wage cap area.
“[There’s] some proficient gamers that we are going to take a look at,” DeCosta mentioned. “We will certainly have a plan for that place.”
Baltimore can take extra strain off of Jackson by including a hardworking again. The Ravens have led the NFL in dashing in three of the previous 5 seasons, however they’ve solely had one 1,000-yard operating again in that timeframe. Since Mark Ingram II gained 1,018 yards dashing in 2019, Baltimore hasn’t had a operating again surpass 850 yards.
Jackson has led the Ravens in dashing for the previous 5 seasons, an NFL report for a quarterback, in line with analysis from the Elias Sports activities Bureau. He has completed as Baltimore’s main rusher in 38 video games, two shy of Cam Newton’s report, in line with the Elias Sports activities Bureau.
Here’s a take a look at the operating backs to observe for the Ravens this offseason:
The headliners
Derrick Henry: In November, Ravens cornerback Marlon Humphrey mentioned on his podcast that he was instructed there was an 85% probability of Henry getting dealt to Baltimore earlier than the 2023 commerce deadline. That did not occur, however buzz is constructing for Henry to land in Baltimore.
Former Ravens quarterback Robert Griffin III wrote on social media: “Derrick Henry ought to be a Baltimore Raven as a result of he already performs like a Raven.”
Since 2019, Henry has rushed for 7,209 yards — 1,664 greater than another participant — and has run for 68 touchdowns in 72 video games. The plain concern is Henry’s age (30) and workload (2,030 carries). However the Ravens love veteran leaders who can positively impression tradition, like Odell Beckham Jr. It additionally would not damage that he is coming off a season the place he completed second in dashing yards (1,167).
Saquon Barkley: ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler mentioned somebody from the Ravens instructed him, “Might you think about Saquon Barkley and Lamar Jackson [in] the identical backfield?”
Barkley has been among the many NFL’s greatest twin threats for the reason that New York Giants chosen him with the No. 2 choose in 2018, producing over 1,000 complete yards in 4 of six seasons. However sturdiness is a priority with Barkley, who has missed at the very least three video games in 4 of the previous 5 seasons, together with a lot of the 2020 season due to a torn ACL.
Josh Jacobs: This might be a boom-or-bust signing. In 2022, Jacobs led the NFL in dashing (1,653 yards) and yards from scrimmage (2,053). Final season, after lacking all of coaching camp and the preseason to protest the franchise tag, Jacobs completed with profession lows in video games performed (13), dashing yards (805), yards per carry (3.5), dashing touchdowns (6), dashing first downs (34) and yards from scrimmage (1,101).
Austin Ekeler: He is been one of many NFL’s greatest at entering into the top zone, however he is coming off a disappointing season. Final season, he averaged a career-worst 3.5 yards per carry and totaled 1,064 yards from scrimmage, his fewest since 2020. After scoring 38 touchdowns in 2021 and 2022, Ekeler was restricted to 6 final season.
Tony Pollard: His previous two seasons have been the definition of regular manufacturing. Pollard ranked within the prime 10 with 2,012 dashing yards (seventh), 52 runs over 10 yards (ninth) and a couple of,694 complete yards from scrimmage (2,694). Though he wasn’t as explosive final season, Pollard looks as if one of many safer bets in free company at this place.
Beneath the radar
D’Andre Swift: This has the makings of being an amazing match by way of worth and taking part in type. Swift is aware of run-pass choice performs and the pistol formation after dashing for a career-high 1,049 yards, which ranked fifth, with the Philadelphia Eagles. He is only one of six operating backs final season with 1,000-plus dashing yards and 35-plus receptions. At 25, Swift can be one of many youngest free agent operating backs.
Editor’s Picks
2 Associated
Zack Moss: The Ravens have a historical past of taking discover when gamers carry out effectively in opposition to them, and Moss definitely caught their consideration when he rushed for 122 yards in Baltimore final season. A succesful stand-in for All-Professional again Jonathan Taylor, Moss was the NFL’s third-leading rusher by way of 5 weeks final season and completed with 794 yards and 5 landing runs.
Potential wage cap cuts
Nick Chubb: Browns normal supervisor Andrew Berry mentioned the plan is for Chubb to be again in Cleveland this season, however the Browns can save $11.825 million by slicing him. Chubb missed the final 15 video games final season after struggling a critical damage to his left knee, the identical knee he had reconstructed whereas at Georgia in 2015. From 2019 to 2022, Chubb averaged 90.6 dashing yards per sport, which ranked solely behind Henry throughout that point.
Alvin Kamara: The Saints can unencumber $11.682 million in wage cap area in the event that they launch or commerce Kamara after June 1. Some of the electrical operating backs within the league, he has totaled 8,888 yards from scrimmage since 2017, which ranks solely behind Henry. Kamara, who turns 29 in July, completed the season with a career-low 1,160 yards from scrimmage, however he missed the primary three video games of the season due to a suspension.
Potential returns
J.Okay. Dobbins: He is one of the vital explosive backs within the league when he is wholesome. His profession common of 5.8 yards per carry is the best amongst operating backs with at the very least 200 carries since 2020. However, over the previous three seasons, he is been sidelined for 42 of the Ravens’ 51 video games, together with the final 16 final season due to a torn Achilles.
