OTL: Backs Still Have a Place in Baltimore

Much has been made over the past few seasons concerning the place of running backs in the NFL’s current hierarchy.

Opinions can vary a little from one person to another, but it tends to go quarterback, pass-rusher, receiver, offensive line, corner… and, wedged somewhere in between holder and towel-folder falls running backs.

How the times have changed.

But that most certainly is not the case in Baltimore, where running backs do matter (outside of, you know, in conference championship games…)

The Ravens added to their room in a big way this offseason with the signing of eclipse-causer Derrick Henry, and the star back said he long had Baltimore in his mind as a landing spot.

“For the record, Baltimore was always my No. 1 option,” Henry said during an appearance on the Jim Rome Show (audio link). “That’s always where I wanted to go. And like I said, I know the trade talks [during the season], it was almost going to happen, but I didn’t know once free agency started if they still felt the same way until I talked to my agent to see what was really going on.”

Henry joins a team that has promising young back Keaton Mitchell recovering from a severe knee injury, and the multi-faceted Justice Hill in tow, but it’s clearly Henry’s room right now. They’re still looking to add another back, as both Gus Edwards and JK Dobbins saw their contracts expire this offseason. Edwards signed with the Chargers, but Dobbins is still floating around.

Speaking of Dobbins, the former second-round pick who has been bitten by the injury bug at every turn in Baltimore, this stat line is probably what Ravens fans saw coming from him when the Ravens first selected him four years ago: 234 carries for 1,347 yards (5.8 yards per carry) and 12 touchdowns.

The problem is that is what he accumulated over four seasons — not just one awesome All Pro year.

Could a Dobbins reunion still be in the cards?

Whether or not Dobbins returns to the Ravens remains to be seen, but a one-year contract backing up Henry could provide the rusher with an explosive complement and show other teams that he still has what it takes to play in the NFL before potentially pursuing a bigger payday next off-season.

Part of me would love to see him come back on a one-year deal so he could showcase his ability to stay healthy and perform if given the opportunity, but the majority of my thinking believes it’s time to cut bait — both for the Ravens and Dobbins.

The Ravens do need another back, but why not draft a mid-rounder to play that complementary role at a controlled cost for a few seasons? In the best-case scenario, Henry provides the Ravens two strong seasons until handing off the baton to Mitchell or a player-to-be determined to take the lead role.

Dobbins will have opportunities, and I’m guessing his phone will get some more action after the draft — when teams have a better idea of what they’re looking at with their rosters and start filling in the holes with veterans looking to land somewhere.

Maybe that will end up being Baltimore. But I feel like he will get more chances somewhere else.

John Harbaugh said he was happy that the NFL was trying to put kick returns back into the game this season, even if he wasn’t entirely confident in the method. Still, the Ravens responded by signing a former All-Pro returner to fill that role.

“Harty, 26, was an All-Pro returner in 2019 with the New Orleans Saints, when he led the league with 338 punt return yards and scored a return touchdown,” wrote Ryan Mink. “He’s averaged 10.4 yards per punt return and 25.2 yards per kick return over his five-year career.”

I like the signing. If Harty can “steal” field possession a handful of times this coming season, he will be worth the expenditure, which I don’t expect to be very much. He can also bring some flash and wiggle to the receiving room in a limited role.

This is the kind of low-profile signing that good teams make to give their team the best chance to win games.

Also of note:

https://www.pennlive.com/sports/2024/04/baltimore-ravens-legend-breaks-silence-after-police-say-he-pulled-gun-threatened-to-kill-man-at-starbucks.html

Morning brew: Which #Ravens are poised for a break out in 2024?

My four candidates:

– Travis Jones
– Trenton Simpson
– Ben Cleveland
– Ar’Darius Washington

My reasons why for @RussellStReport #RavensFlock https://t.co/ceXll5iQLj

— Dev Panchwagh (@devpanchwagh) April 11, 2024

Baltimore #Ravens’ Malik Cunningham: Quarterback or Receiver? https://t.co/3dkUXEeMZI

— fishsports ✭ (@fishsports) April 10, 2024

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