By nearly all accounts, the Baltimore Ravens will trade or release McGahee once the labor situation is settled. The move is less about his yards per carry dropping from 5.0 to 3.8, and more about the $6M he would be owed for 2011.

If he’d take a paycut, I’d like to see him return. While RB’s are replaceable, you  need multiple capable backs in this league and he was a solid insurance policy. I always think back to the year after the Super Bowl and how that season was derailed with the ACL injury sustained to Jamal Lewis.

If McGahee is traded or released as expected, the 2nd rb could be Le’Ron McClain. Obviously McClain has made no secret that he would like additional carries. With the Ravens signing FB Jason Mckie, they could have the luxury of using McClain in that RB capacity. McClain has averaged 20 receptions the past 3 years, and as we all remember had 900 yards with 10 TD’s in ’08.

When looking at the RB’s, I think the most important thing that can happen for them (and maybe the roster as a whole) is to have Jared Gaither return to the Offensive Line. The Ravens hope that Gaither will be a Restricted Free Agent, but the most likely outcome of the new Collective Bargaining Agreement will have Gaither becoming an Unrestricted FA. Gaither wants to play on the left-side, as he feels his footwork is better and throughout the league LT’s get paid more vs. RT’s. I think he is a better LT than Michael Oher, and he is only 3 months older. If you get Gaither back (and he has stated publicly that he wants to remain in a Baltimore uniform) the whole line is upgraded. Not only do you improve at LT, but you improve at RT, and RG.

After watching his yards per carry drop from 5.3 in ’09 to 4.0 in ’10, I have to imagine Ray Rice is hoping for this to occur.

Of course the other way the Ravens RB’s can be helped is if the Ravens WR’s are better equipped to stretch the field. Too often last year, opposing defenses were not scared of being beat over the top by Baltimore, and made it a point of stacking the box. Ed Dickson, and some of the potential draft options could help change that. The Ravens also have some enthusiasm for James Hardy.

Lastly, while I do not think anyone believes the Ravens would target a RB in probably the first two rounds of the draft; I will be interested to see if it is a targeted position the 3rd round on. At the link below, National Football Post ranks what they consider the Top 25 RB’s in the draft:
http://www.nationalfootballpost.com/college_big_board_rankings.html&position=rb

Chris Stoner
Chris Stoner

Owner

Chris Stoner founded Baltimore Sports and Life in 2009. He has appeared as a radio guest with 1090 WBAL, 105.7 The Fan, CBS 1300, Q1370, WOYK 1350, WKAV 1400, and WNST 1570. He has also been interviewed by The Baltimore Sun, Baltimore Business Journal, and PressBox (TV). As Owner, his responsibilities include serving as the Managing Editor, Publicist, & Sales Director.

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