Ravens commerce rumors: Baltimore’s RBs drawing curiosity as NFL commerce deadline approaches

The Ravens appeared to have one of many least fascinating working again conditions within the NFL after they misplaced their high three working backs — JK Dobbins, Gus Edwards and Justice Hill — to accidents earlier than the 2021 NFL season. Nevertheless, that has modified 5 weeks into the season.

Regardless of the accidents, the Ravens have averaged 164.5 dashing yards per recreation, good for the fourth-most within the NFL to this point. Lamar Jackson has been liable for 69.8 of these yards, which means that Baltimore has nonetheless approached 100 dashing yards per recreation with its backfield rotation.

The remainder of the NFL has taken discover of the Ravens’ success. ESPN’s Adam Schefter studies that the Ravens have obtained commerce inquiries about their rebuilt working again room. The workforce could not decide to make any offers earlier than the Nov. 2, 2021, NFL commerce deadline, however it speaks to the stable job the workforce did in including depth and expertise to its roster briefly order.

Schefter did not specify which backs had been drawing essentially the most curiosity, however here is a fast rundown of what Baltimore has on the working again place proper now.

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Ravens RB depth chart

1. Latavius Murray

The Saints launched Murray earlier than the season started as a result of the veteran again would not take a pay lower. The Ravens scooped him up shortly and he has since established himself because the chief of the Baltimore backfield.

Murray has totaled 44 carries for the Ravens to this point; that is greater than the opposite three working backs on the roster have mixed (37). He’s averaging solely 3.4 yards per carry, however he’s serving to to put on down opposing defenses and has a team-high three rush TDs as properly.

Murray’s mixture of manufacturing and expertise make him more likely to stay the highest again in Baltimore. Except the workforce is keen to show again to Ty’Son Williams because the backfield chief once more, Murray ought to proceed to see essentially the most motion within the backfield with Jackson.

2. Le’Veon Bell

The Ravens signed Bell on eve of the season, and he made his workforce debut in Week 4. He is nonetheless on the Baltimore observe squad, however he was one of many 4 gamers the workforce selected to guard for Week 5. So, clearly, they worth his ability set.

Bell performed 20 snaps towards Denver and racked up 11 yards dashing. It appears bizarre to listing a observe squad participant because the No. 2 choice on any depth chart, however he logged practically as many snaps as Devonta Freeman has all season in his first recreation. If Bell continues to get the decision, it seems like he’s the second-fiddle choice behind Murray.

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3. Devonta Freeman

Freeman has performed three video games for the Ravens to this point however has performed simply 25 offensive snaps. He has 41 yards on six carries and hasn’t caught a go but.

It seems that the Ravens are beginning to favor Bell to Freeman as the highest veteran backup to Murray. Bell noticed 20 snaps in Week 4 whereas Freeman performed simply six. Freeman nonetheless does have worth as a veteran, but when he cannot produce extra between the tackles, he could lose enjoying time to the youngest choice the Ravens have at working again.

4. Ty’Son Williams

Williams really started the season because the Ravens’ lead again and stays the workforce’s second-leading rusher behind Jackson. Nevertheless, he slipped down the depth chart previous to Week 4 and was declared inactive for the sport. This got here after he performed a season-low 29 snaps and ran 5 occasions towards the Lions.

Why has Williams fallen down the depth chart? As Jeff Zrebiec defined, it needed to do with how he ran and a few fumbling points.

Nonetheless, Williams is averaging 6.1 yards per carry, as Zrebiec notes, so he has expertise. It is only a matter of whether or not the Ravens are keen to belief him.

Williams’ standing for Week 5’s recreation towards the Colts will bear watching. For now, he ranks No. 4 on the depth chart, but when he is energetic he might climb as excessive because the No. 2 spot — or possibly even No. 1. If not, he would possibly make good commerce bait for the Ravens given his stable numbers and relative youth (25 years previous).

Lengthy story quick, the Ravens’ depth chart is in flux. It is going to in all probability change on a weekly foundation given how a lot Greg Roman likes to rotate his working backs.

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Will the Ravens commerce one in all their RBs?

It is too early to say, however given the Ravens’ reliance on the working recreation and the plethora of accidents it has suffered on the place this yr, they could be smart to carry onto what they’ve as they appear to make a playoff run.

That stated, if the Ravens did make a commerce, it will in all probability must contain Ty’Son Williams. Merely put, the veterans they’ve on their roster do not encourage a lot hope at this stage of their careers. All can tote the rock, however none are notably explosive.

Williams has proven a little bit of burst, but when he is within the Ravens’ doghouse maybe they’d transfer him for the correct worth. In any case, Dobbins is coming again subsequent yr together with Edwards and Hill. These three will be the way forward for the Baltimore backfield if the workforce is not assured in Williams.

Nonetheless, it would not appear overly doubtless that the Ravens will commerce one in all their working backs at the moment.