The Baltimore Ravens love to run the ball, and this year they seem especially well equipped to do it.
According to John Kosko of Pro Football Focus, the Ravens have the best running backs group in the NFL.
Kosko praised the Ravens' signing of Derrick Henry, along with "underrated" backup Justice Hill and running back Keaton Mitchell.
Here's what Kosko wrote:
"Pairing Henry with the lightning-fast Keaton Mitchell and the underrated Justice Hill gives Baltimore a diverse backfield to punish opposing defenses, with Henry bulldozing through defensive lines, Mitchell speeding past tacklers and Hill spelling the future Hall of Famer."
Signing Henry to a two-year, $16 million contract was arguably the Ravens' flashiest move of the offseason. Though Henry, 30, is in the backend of his career, he still offers power, speed, and consistency that the Ravens have lacked in the backfield.
It sounds as if the Ravens might incorporate more passing and creative schemes into their offense to make life easier for Henry.
Ravens head coach John Harbaugh explained how the Ravens want to use Henry.
"I think what it's going to look like is what it looked like in Tennessee: him running for a lot of yards," Harbaugh said. "Maybe even in some ways we'll create some opportunities because we're going to possibly spread the defense out just a little bit more. There won't be as many eyes on him, maybe not as many helmets directed towards him when he gets the ball, and we'll be able to create just a little more space for him."
Meanwhile, as Kosko noted, the Ravens have Hill and Keaton to give Henry breaks. Hill averaged 4.6 yards per rush on a career-high 84 carries last season. Mitchell was incredibly efficient with his carries, going for 396 yards on just 47 touches for an average of 8.2 yards per carry. However, a torn ACL cut his season short.
The Ravens also drafted running back Rasheen Ali in the fifth round of the 2024 draft. Ali ran for 1,135 yards and 15 touchdowns in his senior year at Marshall. However, he ruptured a biceps tendon during the Senior Bowl. He has not yet practiced with the Ravens, but Harbaugh said he would be ready for training camp.
Now, it remains to be seen how effectively the Ravens will be able to run the ball with their biggest positional need remaining on the offensive line. There is still time for them to address a hole at left guard with some of the remaining free agents.
