The Ravens’ running back search is underway. After losing Justice Hill to a torn Achilles, the Ravens auditioned running backs Le’Veon Bell, Devonta Freeman, and Elijah Holyfield, per the league’s official list. 
[RELATED: Ravens’ Hill Done For Year]
Bell is undoubtedly eager to prove that he still has upper-echelon ability. He did not record a 20-yard run as a Jet or as a Chief. Bell’s most recent 100-yard rushing game came in 2017, during his Steelers heyday. In Pittsburgh, Bell posted 1,800-plus scrimmage yards three times en route to the 2014 and ’17 All-Pro teams. He added three 75-catch seasons in that span, so he could provide Lamar Jackson with an intriguing short-range option.
Freeman is also out to prove that he’s more than just a name at this stage of his career. The former Pro Bowler ended up with the Giants last year and averaged just 3.2 yards per carry on 54 totes. The Saints picked him up towards the end of July, but his New Orleans run ended after just one month.
Defensive tackle Reginald McKenzie and quarterback Kenji Bahar also worked out for the Ravens on Monday. And, in other Ravens news, they’ve locked up standout tight end Mark Andrews on a four-year, $56MM deal.
Zach gets 3 articles from this news. It’s still early maybe he can stretch another couple out of this news.
Kinda surprised Adrian Peterson hasn’t gotten a call for a workout yet. He is still serviceable….and better than half the guys getting workouts.
At this point hes just a goal line back.
He can pass protect with the best of them, but he wasn’t able to catch much even in his prime making it a moot point on 3rd down.
While I think he could still find a spot, its gonna be tough with Todd Gurley maybe ahead of him on most teams list.
Always a lot of big name RBs available including Lev Bell, Duke Johnson, Keryon Johnson, Bryce Love etc
Frank gore!!! 4 more years!!!
Gore more years!!!
Freeman is more of a similar replacement for Hill than Bell or Holyfield, but he has obviously lost a step or two since his Falcons heyday. Bell could be a good option-if he is in good shape. He’s fallen behind too from where he was even after his Pittsburgh days, but his ability to catch and be safety valve would make him very valuable in an option offense.
I’d love to see Holyfield get a chance, but he is not as quick as Baltimore would seem to prefer. Unlike Freeman and Bdll, of course, he is much younger and has great power once he gets going. I don’t see Peterson as being a great fit for Baltimore’s scheme, as he prefers a lot of straight line power running, but these days who really knows. Baltimore is going to have to adjust a lot with the loss of their top two backs in Dobbins and Hill, so finding someone who wants and can handle a lot of carries is essential, even if the scheme has to change slightly.
Royce Freeman would have been a good get for Baltimore.
Hill wasn’t one of their top 2 backs
I should have worded it better. Hill and Dobbins were both top backs (meaning they’d be two see a significant portion of snaps) and they’re both out. That leaves just Edwards as a back who saw time last year.
Williams will get more carries now obviously, but Hill figured to be either the second or third most used back this year depending on the game. I considered Hill to be the number three back but he was definitely going to get playing time because of his skill set. I’d definitely consider him one of their top backs, since Baltimore uses a platoon back there.
Gus Edward’s was the second back bro
Again, 2 of their top backs. Not backs 1 and 2. All of them figured to be used in game plans, so that’s why I said “top” backs. And again, Hill was used for certain plays so it wasn’t strictly just him operating behind Edwards.
why not sign Gurley? he’s a local guy and prolly has more left in the tank.
He was born there but played his High School Ball in North Carolina. Gurley has bad knees. He has had 3 Elite seasons and 3 what I would call below average seasons where he struggled. He is interested in the Ravens but are they interested in him is the question.
yeah, but it’s a matter of finding value in what’s left. Freeman and Bell weren’t that amazing last year either.
At least Bell offers something as a receiver too. Gurley hasn’t been a receiving threat in half a decade.
Ravens let Ingram walk, now both Dobbins and Hill are out for the year leaving them with Lamar Jackson and Gus Edwards. They need to sign someone. I picked them to finish 10-7 because of all the roster Turmoil at RB. They are minus 1164 rush yards plus 190 Receiving yards. Noticed Ravens barely threw to their backs last yr. all they have is Edwards and an unproven rookie Ty’Son Williams who went from N.C. to S.C. to Byu in his college career. The Key to the Ravens success is the Ground game. Don’t see them winning much if they have to pass 60% of the time or more. Even last yr they did not do that. In the 5 Regular season losses they still passed only 49.7% of the time. In 3 of the 5 losses they still ran it more then they threw it ending up at 44.4% pass the other 2 games they were at 58.1% pass.
They should take a look at the practice squads of every team. you have Spencer Brown from UAB on the Carolina Practice squad, Ryan Nall on the Bears, guys like Derrick Gore, Ameer Abdullah, workhorse Jordan Howard, a couple guys who have carried the ball for the Rival Steelers. Not a Ravens fan, since they are the Stolen Original Cleveland Browns. My brother calls them the Nameless team. He has never picked them to win a game, has blacked their logo out on NFL Wrapping paper.
none of those guys are any good…howard was years ago.
You might want to take a look at who is available. “Not any good” and “best available” are two very different concepts.
None of those guys are probably top twenty at their position, but they still probably can contribute more than most current free agents to a team, and more than some depth guys who will see snaps this year. They’re just not foundation guys at this point for the most part.
“Stolen?” Harsh.
Isn’t Ingram a free agent still? You would think they would atleast consider him due to his knowledge of their system
He is the starter in Houston
Shoot a pick over for mark ingram
Hey s cut earlier.. think he’s a free agent currently
No he wasn’t
Bell has clearly lost a step, but he is durable – unlike the other available running backs.
Bell is a good pass catching option
Duke would’ve been a decent change of pace but he’s on Jags practice squad as of yesterday
n 2021 teams can protect only four players on their practice squads – everyone else can be “poached” by another team.
Bell still seems like the best option they’ve got. I’m betting they could squeeze a whole bunch of yards out of him for a year, maybe two