Since the start of the 2024 offseason, the Baltimore Ravens have been expected to turn to the free agent market for the running back that will be their starter for next season.
It has been a while since the team has had a top tier option at the position and have some openings on the roster now.
They are the odds-on favorite to sign Derrick Henry this offseason and are reportedly hoping to add a big name at running back.
It appears that the Ravens may still be attempting to re-sign some recognizable players, even though all the signals point to a significant transition for the organization.
Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta stated during his NFL Combine press conference that the team is still in contact with Gus Edwards and would speak with J.K. Dobbins.
“Gus and I are still in contact. We had a few free agents that we’ll talk to, including J.K., DeCosta stated, per Baltimoreravens.com. “With those guys, we’re hoping to accomplish something.”
Dobbins’ and Edwards’ Ravens Careers
Dobbins and Edwards have taken very different paths through their NFL careers.
The Ravens picked Edwards up after he went undrafted back in 2018. In 2020, they drafted Dobbins in the second round.
Since Dobbins was drafted, injuries have kept him from ever living up to the expectations that came with the pick. He has played just 23 games in his four seasons in the league.
Edwards, on the other hand, has developed into one of the league’s most trustworthy backup running backs.
Since the Ravens signed him, he has been called upon multiple times and has always come through for them. Despite never starting a season at the top of the team’s depth chart in his six seasons in the league, Edwards has nevertheless amassed over 700 yards four times.
During the first five years of his career, he also averaged more than five yards per run.
It would be quite unexpected to see either of these two running backs back in a Ravens uniform in 2024 as they are now both free agents.
Why This Doesn’t Make Sense
Re-signing one of these running backs wouldn’t be a big surprise for the Ravens. Their depth chart currently consists of Justice Hill and Keaton Mitchell.
Mitchell may not be ready for the 2024 season to begin since he is recuperating from an ACL tear sustained late in the year.
Over his career, Hill has been more of a depth option.
The team can conclude as a result that they require a known entity to assume the backup position.
If they want to go for a major name, they don’t need both people. They lack the cap space and roster space necessary for it.
The Ravens are losing a lot of players to free agency this offseason, and they now have just $16.47 million in cap space.
After abandoning the run in the AFC Championship Game, it’s clear that the Ravens need to go out and get themselves an elite option at the position.
Few teams in the NFL have been as run-heavy as the Ravens since they selected Lamar Jackson, even though it might not be as significant for other teams in the league.
In order to optimize the efficacy of that strategy, they require a reliable and authentic RB1.
They could be unable to accomplish so if they hold onto too much of the RB depth chart from the previous year.
They must choose between Edwards and Dobbins before free agency opens if they hope to make a significant impact at running back this summer.
