The Ravens led the league in rushing during the 2023 season, but the running back position could see a significant overhaul soon. Several veteran options are set to hit the market, and Baltimore could be a team to watch concerning a signing.
A belief around the league exists that the Ravens plan to “target a running back with pedigree” next month, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler writes.
Baltimore’s top two running backs entering the 2023 campaign — J.K. Dobbins and Gus Edwards — are pending free agents. The same is also true of veteran pickups Melvin Gordon and Dalvin Cook, so the team has several interesting decisions to make at the position ahead of the new league year.
Dobbins’ case in particular will be worth watching. The former second-round pick has shown considerable promise when on the field, scoring 13 total touchdowns in 24 regular-season games while averaging 5.8 yards per carry.
An ACL tear cost him the entire 2021 season, though, and Dobbins suffered an Achilles tear in Week 1 of this past campaign. That came after a summer in which the Ravens made clear their desire to retain him, but his stock has no doubt taken a hit given his missed time.
Baltimore discussed an extension with Dobbins, who profiles as having more upside than many of the other pending free-agent backs given his performances and age (25).
A fresh start via a deal sending him elsewhere would come as little surprise if he is aiming for the opportunity to operate as a clear-cut lead back. Red flags due to his injuries — along with the overall depressed market at the RB position — could limit his ability to do that, though.
Edwards was one of the backs who saw an increased workload in Dobbins’ absence. The former UDFA set a new career high in carries (198), scrimmage yards (990) and touchdowns (13) in 2023.
His yards per carry average fell to 4.1, however, the lowest mark of his career. The 28-year-old’s decreased efficiency could limit his market to that of a goal line specialist (as opposed to the three-year, $12.38M pact he signed in 2021), either on a new Ravens deal or one with an outside team.
Third down back and special teams mainstay Justice Hill is on the books for 2024 at a cap hit of $2.97M. A release could free up cap space, but Hill has proven to be a valuable depth contributor when given the opportunity.
Keaton Mitchell, who joined Baltimore as an undrafted rookie and flashed plenty of potential before suffering an ACL tear, figures to have at least a complementary role once he has recovered. The Ravens should have room for at least one outside addition if they elect to go the free-agent route.
Baltimore was connected to Derrick Henry at the trade deadline, but the Titans did not end up moving him. The two-time rushing champion is nevertheless in line to depart Tennessee for the first time in his career during free agency, and he has named joining a Super Bowl contender as a priority for this offseason.
Coming off a 13-4 season and an appearance in the AFC title game, Baltimore qualifies in that regard.
Henry will likely be joined by a host of other accomplished backs, including Saquon Barkley, Josh Jacobs and Tony Pollard.
Baltimore has several key financial decisions to make in the coming weeks, including a potential franchise tag application for defensive tackle Justin Madubuike and talks on a new deal for linebacker Patrick Queen.
Those Pro Bowl defenders will use up considerable cap resources if either or both are retained. For now, though, the team is in a better financial situation than several others, so Baltimore could be active on the RB market.
More must-reads:
Get the latest news and rumors, customized to your favorite sports and teams. Emailed daily. Always free!
The Pittsburgh Steelers have already begun to decrease their roster size as they enter the second week of training camp. The rest of the remaining roster is set to wear pads for the first time this summer, but three players who began this offseason with the organization were officially waived or had their contracts terminated. A headliner among the first roster cuts for the Steelers is promising rookie wide receiver Montana Lemonious-Craig. The 6'2" pass-catcher was hoping to take advantage of the competition within Pittsburgh's receiving room, but his performance through rookie camp, OTAs and the first week of training camp were not enough to keep him around. The team placed him and linebacker Jeremiah Moon on the waived/injured list. Both he and Moon were released with injury designations. This means that they could be in line for an injury settlement if they clear waivers and revert to the Steelers' Injured Reserve (IR). Lemonious-Craig joined the Steelers in May of this year after going undrafted in the 2025 NFL Draft. He spent his collegiate career with two schools. He began at the University of Colorado, playing in that program between 2020 and 2022. As a sophomore, he recorded the best collegiate season of his career with Colorado. Over 11 games, he hauled in 23 receptions for 359 yards and two touchdowns. Following his sophomore campaign, he transferred to the University of Arizona to complete his NCAA eligibility. He played two seasons with the Wildcats, collecting 45 receptions for 468 yards and three touchdowns. Lemonious-Craig made waves during the pre-draft scouting process. Despite limited production over his five NCAA campaigns, he ran a 4.4 40-yard dash during his pro day. That speed, combined with his size, drew the Steelers to him and earned him a shot at camp.
The Boston Bruins have been under pressure to retool after a disappointing season, and now a potential blockbuster move could shake the entire NHL. A major trade proposal has surfaced that could send a star goaltender to the Edmonton Oilers, a move that would give them the elite presence they've lacked in net while forcing Boston closer to a rebuild. The deal being floated by multiple outlets would send Edmonton's current starter, Stuart Skinner, along with Matthew Savoie, Beau Akey, and a 2028 first-round pick to Boston, while the Oilers land a goaltender capable of changing their Cup window overnight. Edmonton's push for a franchise goalie could reshape the Western Conference and challenge the Dallas Stars' path to the Cup If this trade goes through, the Oilers would instantly address one of their biggest weaknesses, setting up a showdown with teams like the Dallas Stars, who already see Edmonton as one of their toughest rivals. Boston, on the other hand, would fully commit to a rebuild, pairing Joonas Korpisalo with Skinner in what could be one of the NHL's weakest tandems, likely boosting their draft lottery odds in one of the most hyped draft classes in recent memory (NHL.com). An insider noted, "They weren't the only ones who had inquired about Swayman, but yes, I was told they poked around." That comment shows just how wide the interest is for this level of goalie talent (Heavy.com). I think this kind of trade would completely shift the balance of power in the West, making Edmonton even more dangerous for teams like Dallas, who could end up facing a vastly upgraded Oilers team in the playoffs. If Boston truly embraces a rebuild, moving their top goaltender could be the first domino in a massive roster overhaul, something that could shake the market for weeks.
Quarterback Aaron Rodgers spent the bulk of the spring as an unsigned free agent and, thus, only began officially practicing with Pittsburgh Steelers teammates during the team's three-day mandatory minicamp in June. During a Monday appearance on Pittsburgh radio station 102.5 WDVE, Steelers reporter Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette addressed how Rodgers looked during his first few training camp practices with the club. "His release is just astonishing to watch," Dulac said about Rodgers, as shared by Ross McCorkle of Steelers Depot. "Everybody knows about it, and when you see it in person, you see it every day in practice, you just marvel at it. To me, he's the greatest thrower of the football I have ever seen, even at 41 (years old). That flick of that wrist and that ball comes out, it's moving and it is something to see." Rodgers was with the New York Jets when he suffered a torn Achilles four offensive snaps into the 2023 regular-season opener. He was then slowed by a nagging hip issue, injuries to both his knees, a low ankle sprain and a serious hamstring problem as the 2024 Jets went 5-12. According to Pro Football Reference, Rodgers finished last season ranked 28th in the NFL among qualified players with a 48.0 adjusted QBR and 26th with a 43.9 percent passing success rate. That said, he was also eighth with 3,897 passing yards and tied for seventh with 28 passing touchdowns. Rodgers and Jets wide receiver Garrett Wilson endured some struggles during training camp sessions last summer before the two allegedly "never saw eye-to-eye" during the season. It sounds like Pittsburgh fans should be encouraged by how Rodgers performed in recent practices. "That guy can get rid of the ball as quick as anybody," Dulac added. "He made three throws in seven-on-seven (drills) the other day that the cumulative total I bet couldn't have exceeded 2.1 seconds. And two of those were for touchdowns." Rodgers wants to finish his career "the right way" and help the Steelers notch at least their first playoff win since January 2017. As of Monday morning, DraftKings Sportsbook had Pittsburgh at -150 betting odds to miss the playoffs for the upcoming season.
Last season, Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham drastically climbed the ranks of the NBA hierarchy. Following his breakout campaign, one former All-Star and champion opened up on his desire to work with him. Between having a fully healthy offseason and the Pistons making upgrades to the roster, the stage was set for Cunningham to take a step forward in his development. He made the most of this opportunity, posting career highs across the board. In 70 appearances in the regular season, he averaged 26.1 PPG, 6.1 RPG, and 9.1 APG. This production not only got the Pistons to the postseason but also landed Cunningham All-Star and All-NBA honors. While appearing on FanDuel TV's Run It Back show Monday, Rajon Rondo praised Cunningham's abilities on the basketball court. With his experience, he also feels he could help take the Pistons' star to the next level. "If I can get my hands on a Cade Cunningham," Rondo said. "I think he could become that one type of point guard. It's only a couple of tweaks, and then it's also about personnel." Last season, Cunningham was one of the top facilitators in the league. If he spent some time with Rondo, there is no telling what it could do for his development in this area. At his peak, Rondo was a multi-time All-Star with the Boston Celtics and led the NBA in assists on three separate occasions. Though Cunningham already has a high IQ when it comes to playmaking, picking Rondo's brain could yield positive results for the Pistons guard. Seeing that he is more than willing to get in the gym with him, only time will tell if the two end up linking up this summer. Latest on Detroit Pistons’ Free Agency Key Details of Duncan Robinson’s Pistons Contract Detroit Pistons Make Official Trade Announcement Caris LeVert Officially Joining Detroit Pistons Pistons’ Paul Reed Decision Receives Questionable Grade