Possible Running Backs for Ravens to Acquire For 2021 Season

Just 10 days ago, the Ravens stable of running backs that gained over 3,000 yards rushing in 2020 was fully intact.

Now, after two season-ending injuries, that group has been cut in half.

J.K. Dobbins tore his ACL in the team’s final preseason game on August 28. Justice Hill tore his Achilles in practice yesterday. Those two players were counted on as being major contributors to Baltimore’s ground game this season, but now won’t be available until next season. So, in addition to 1^st year running back Ty’Son Williams, Baltimore’s record-setting rushing attack will have to rely on Lamar Jackson and Gus Edwards.

Consensus says that while Lamar Jackson is able, he shouldn’t take too many hits—quarterback being the most valuable on the field. Also, while Edwards is built for a big workload, you don’t want to put too much on his plate, as the team plans to be playing late into January and beyond.

(You can discuss this on the BSL Board here.)

To do so, they will need to bring in another running back, either via free agency or trade. Both of those avenues present roadblocks. Regarding free agency, players that are still available are still available for a reason. They may be older than you’d like, just coming off an injury, cost more than you can afford, or all the above. And with respect to trades, suggesting Baltimore should give up a precious draft pick for a player that’s presumably a stopgap until Dobbins and Hill heal is a tough case to make before Eric DeCosta.

But before you go looking for a replacement, you should know what kind of player you’re looking for.

The Ravens are a physical, run-first offense. Any player that comes into the team must be tough and durable. They must also be excellent in pass protection. Lastly, they need to fit the budget. As of Tuesday afternoon, the Ravens are $2.245 million under the salary cap (according to Over the Cap). Surely some money can be moved around, but again, maneuvering your future cap for a player that may only be with your team for one year is a risk the Ravens will have to carefully weigh before assuming.

You have to understand whoever does get signed won’t be Jamal Lewis in his prime. The good news, though, is that time and time again the Ravens have brought in veterans thought to be “too old” that have played very well.

Here are the Top three free agent running backs I think the Ravens should look at signing.

Player	Age	Rush yds.	Rec. yds.	Touches	Games played	Touches/game	Total TD	2020 AAV ($ million)
Todd Gurley	27	6082	2254	1703	88	19.4	79	5.5
Le’Veon Bell	29	6453	3259	1950	88	22.2	48	1
Lamar Miller	30	5864	1571	1565	106	14.8	40	1.212

stats c/o profootballreference.com

On the surface, it seems like Le’Veon Bell is the best option for the Ravens out of the current free agent group. Not only did he work out for the Team on Monday, but his contract demands would likely be low while bringing nearly 10,000 career scrimmage yards to the table. And of course, he’d be a great asset to have during Steelers week, having spent his first six NFL seasons in Pittsburgh. However, he has the most “mileage” of any of those other backs, as he’s touched the ball 2,699 times since the beginning of his college career.

Baltimore native Todd Gurley is another intriguing choice. If he signed with the Ravens, he’d instantly be the 3rd best running back they’ve had in terms of career all-purpose yards gained. He’d be 1st in total touchdowns (79), far above the next best player (Jamal Lewis, 47). However, his salary would need to be drastically different than what he was most recently paid to make a deal work.

A dark horse candidate is Lamar Miller. He has a career per carry average of 4.3 yards but hasn’t taken meaningful snaps since 2018. He appeared in one game for the Bears last season, catching two passes for six yards. But if he’s in shape, that could be just what the Ravens need—someone to move the chains.

The Ravens also have the option to trade for a running back. This is the more complicated route as it’s likely to involve the loss of draft picks—something DeCosta is not fond of. However, he has a much bigger pool of players to choose from in the trade market than if he were to be limited to free agency.

Here are three potential trade candidates I think would help solidify Baltimore’s ground game.

Player	Age	Career yards/carry	2021 cap figure	Current team cap savings
Chuba Hubbard	22	n/a	$838K	$660K
Raheem Mostert	29	1590	$3.608M	$3.15M
Mark Ingram	31	7324	$2.323M	$1.8M

Chuba Hubbard was a 4th round pick of the Carolina Panthers in this year’s draft. He gained over 2,200 yards and scored 21 touchdowns rushing in his last full season of college football (2019). He’s a sought-after backup for Christian McCaffrey, so the Panthers won’t just give him away, to say the least.

Mark Ingram, who just signed with the Texans after two years in Baltimore, has yet to take a snap for Houston. He was beloved by his teammates and the fans while in Baltimore but wasn’t just a fun person to have around. He made big-time plays. In 2019, Ingram was elected to his 3rd Pro Bowl after scoring 15 total touchdowns—a Ravens single-season record. He knows the system and still has a lot of good football left in him. With Baltimore and Houston headed in opposite directions, this may not be that far-fetched of a prospect.

The last potential addition I thought would be a great fit is Raheem Mostert—who, strangely enough, played in seven games for Baltimore in his rookie year (2015). He made his name, though, in 2019 as a member of the 49ers (his current team). That season, Mostert rushed for 772 yards and 8 touchdowns—including a career best 146 yards on 19 carries (against the Ravens) in Week 13. In that year’s Super Bowl, Mostert gained 58 yards on 12 carries. He’s been a tough, efficient runner, and the irony of him returning to Baltimore—the team which his best career performance was against—may make this just the right fit. Even though San Francisco won’t let him go for cheap, it’s a rare opportunity for the Ravens to acquire a productive veteran whose contract demands aren’t particularly cost prohibitive.

The bottom line: Whoever the Ravens bring in will be the one they’re most convinced can help them win a Super Bowl. That’s their goal, whether it’s a popular move or not.