The Baltimore Ravens have been anticipated to search the free agent market for their starting running back for the upcoming season since the beginning of the 2024 offseason.
The squad currently has some holes on the roster, but it hasn’t had a top-tier option at the position in a while.
They had been the betting favorite to sign Derrick Henry this offseason and are reportedly looking 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.”
Edwards’ and Dobbins’ Careers for Ravens
Dobbins and Edwards’ NFL careers have gone in somewhat different directions.
After Edwards was not drafted in 2018, he was selected by the Ravens. They selected Dobbins in the second round of the 2020 draft.
Injuries have prevented Dobbins from ever living up to the hype surrounding his draft selection since he was selected. In his four seasons in the league, he has only appeared in 23 games.
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 There Is No Sense in This
The Ravens wouldn’t be shocked if one of these running backs signed a new contract. Justice Hill and Keaton Mitchell are now at the top of their depth chart.
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.
It’s obvious that the Ravens need to go out and acquire themselves an excellent option at the position after giving up on the run in the AFC Championship Game.
Few teams in the NFL have been as run-heavy since the Ravens 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.
If they’re going to make something big happen at running back this offseason, they’re going to need to decide between Edwards and Dobbins before free agency opens.