Chargers To Sign RB Keaton Mitchell
Working in the Ravens’ front office when the team identified Keaton Mitchell as a 2023 UDFA, Joe Hortiz will bring the speedy running back to Los Angeles.
The third-year GM will sign off on a two-year, $9.25MM Chargers deal for Mitchell, NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero reports. Mitchell did not receive an RFA tender from the Ravens, and Jesse Minter’s former team will take advantage. Mitchell will receive $5MM fully guaranteed.
Showing game-breaking ability as a rookie, Mitchell saw his career sidetracked by a late-season ACL tear. The East Carolina alum did not return until November 2024. By that time, the Ravens had Derrick Henry completing a historic season. As Mitchell faded into the background in a Henry-powered backfield, Baltimore did not tender him as an RFA Monday. The low-end tender cost teams $3.52MM this year.
Having not yet determined the Maxx Crosby trade would be nixed and still carrying Lamar Jackson‘s $74MM-plus cap hit at the time, the Ravens passed on Mitchell to make him an unrestricted free agent. As the RFA tender prices keep rising, teams have increasingly passed on handing them out. This regularly results in players coming back to the same team at a reduced rate, but Mitchell ended up faring better than he would have under the tender.
Mitchell flashed brightly as a rookie, averaging an eye-popping 8.4 yards per carry on 47 handoffs. After only 15 carries in 2024, Mitchell handled a career-high 59 totes in 2025. The Chargers will be adding a fourth-year back with little tread on his tires and one who is more than two years removed from his ACL tear.
With the Ravens also having Justice Hill and Rasheen Ali in their backfield last season, Mitchell did finish with the second-most carries (among RBs) on Baltimore’s roster. He rushed for 341 yards in 2025. The Chargers have not re-signed Najee Harris, though they did tender Kimani Vidal as an ERFA last week. Mitchell and Vidal represent interesting options behind starter Omarion Hampton.
New Chargers OC Mike McDaniel unleashed one of the NFL’s fastest players, in De’Von Achane, in Miami. Mitchell did not run track at East Carolina, whereas Achane had a 10.1-second 100-meter clocking on his resume, but he did zoom to a 4.37-second 40-yard dash time at the 2023 Combine. It will be interesting to see how the new Bolts OC uses Mitchell and Vidal in his first L.A. offense.
RFA/ERFA Tender Decisions: 3/9/26
Here are today’s tender decisions:
RFAs
Tendered:
- Vikings: LB Ivan Pace
Non-tendered:
- Cowboys: S Juanyeh Thomas
- Ravens: RB Keaton Mitchell
- Titans: CB Darrell Baker Jr.
ERFAs
Tendered:
- Falcons: DL Elijah Garcia
- Patriots: FB/TE Jack Westover
Ravens Received Trade Interest In RB Keaton Mitchell
Keaton Mitchell has flashed potential when on the field, something which has caught the eye of interested teams. The third-year running back was the subject of trade calls ahead of last month’s deadline.
Teams reached out to the Ravens to discuss a Mitchell trade, NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo reports. To little surprise, he adds Baltimore (a team which was involved in three in-season swaps) turned down interest on that front. Instead of changing teams at the deadline, Mitchell remained in place for the closing stages of the 2025 season.
After entering the league as a UDFA, Mitchell was unused for the beginning of his rookie season. Things changed when he found himself in the lineup, though, as he totaled 489 scrimmage yards on just 56 touches while scoring a pair of touchdowns. An ACL tear ended his standout showing in 2023, and the 23-year-old only made five appearances last year upon returning to game action.
As expected, Derrick Henry – who signed an extension this past offseason – has continued to lead the way in Baltimore’s backfield in 2025. The future Hall of Famer has received at least 10 carries all but once this season, and a heavy workload will no doubt continue down the stretch. Henry has endured rough patches multiple times in 2025, and especially with Justice Hill residing on IR due to a neck injury, Mitchell is in position to operate as Baltimore’s change-of-pace option at the RB spot.
Mitchell scored a touchdown during the Ravens’ Thanksgiving loss, and his performance yesterday included a 55-yard run. The East Carolina product has only handled 93 carries to date in his brief NFL career, but he has averaged 7.0 yards per attempt. Maintaining that level of efficiency over time will obviously be difficult, but Mitchell will look to remain an effective contributor through the remainder of his Baltimore tenure.
Henry and Hill are both under contract for next season. Mitchell, by contrast, is a pending restricted free agent. Given the fact teams were interested in exploring a trade, suitors could emerge in short order provided he is non-tendered and reaches the open market. A more likely scenario would be a decision on the Ravens’ part to tender Mitchell; that would leave an unmatched offer sheet (or trade, of course) as the only means by which a change of scenery could be possible in this case.
Ravens Rumors: Jackson, Flowers, Armour-Davis, Mitchell
We mentioned recently that, following the extension of wide receiver Rashod Bateman, an extension for quarterback Lamar Jackson would be at the forefront of the Ravens’ priorities for the remainder of the offseason. Well, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, the plan was always for the two-time MVP to get a revised deal around this time. 
Though Jackson became the highest-paid player in NFL history only two years ago, so many other quarterbacks have gotten new deals that he currently sits at 10th in the league in average annual value. Jackson and the team anticipated the inflating contract values when they formed his first extension, putting obscene cap hits starting in the third year of his contract to force both parties to return to the table. Jackson’s $43.5MM cap hit in 2025 in the fourth highest in the NFL this year. That cap hit jumps to $74.5MM in 2026 and 2027, giving him the third highest and highest cap hits in those respective years.
A return to the table would benefit both parties as a new contract would likely mean a raise for Jackson and some short-term cap savings for Baltimore. If Jackson once again becomes the highest-paid quarterback (per AAV) in the league, he will become the first player in NFL history to eclipse $60MM per year, and according to Rapoport, head coach John Harbaugh seemed to acknowledge at league meetings that Jackson could certainly be bound for that as of yet uncharted territory.
Rapoport predicts, too, that, paired with Bateman’s extension, the cap relief of a Jackson extension could help the team with another extension that’s likely on the docket for tight end Isaiah Likely.
Here are a few other rumors coming out of Charm City:
- After an impressive sophomore campaign that earned him the honor of being the Ravens’ first Pro Bowl wide receiver in franchise history, Zay Flowers second season came to an early end with a knee sprain in the regular season finale. The injury held him out of the team’s two playoff contests but, luckily, didn’t require surgery. According to ESPN’s Jamison Hensley, Flowers’ knee is already 100 percent. “No limits,” the 24-year-old told the media. As Jackson’s favorite target in 2024, Flowers became just the 10th receiver or tight end in franchise history to catch for 1,000 yards in a single season. Back to full health, he’ll look to become just the second to do so in back-to-back seasons (Derrick Mason did so in three straight years from 2007-09). A big part of that will be Flowers’ ability to reconnect with Jackson, something he began doing as soon as he completed his rehabilitation. Aside from the regular offseason practices in Baltimore, Flowers and Jackson have been working together in private workouts in Florida.
- Since getting drafted in the fourth-round of 2022, cornerback Jalyn Armour-Davis has had a disappointing start to his career. It seems as if offseason rumors pump him up every summer just for injuries to curtail his success in the fall. In three years, he’s only played in 19 games, and with a deeper cornerbacks group in 2025, his path to playing time has grown even longer. According to Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic, Armour-Davis could find time as a safety. Defensive coordinator Zach Orr is reportedly cross-training the 25-year-old, and he’s seen as one of the smartest defensive backs in the building. If this experiment fails to pay dividends, though, Armour-Davis’ continued struggles to make an impact could result in his getting waived.
- After a torn ACL ended an impressive rookie campaign in 2023, running back Keaton Mitchell had to wait until Week 10 to debut in his sophomore season, at which point it was difficult to work him into the offense. The team did find some special teams use for him as a kickoff returner in 2024, though, and per Zrebiec, Mitchell wants to be the primary returner for the team this year, as well. Mitchell should still be able to find some time in the offense in 2025; Derrick Henry will be the primary ball carrier, while Justice Hill functions as a third-down, receiving back, but Mitchell’s incredible speed will continue to be an excellent complement to both rushers. With fewer playing opportunities available on offense, though, Mitchell will look to utilize that speed in the open field on kickoff returns.
Ravens Activate Keaton Mitchell For Season Debut
The Ravens have officially activated Keaton Mitchell from the Physically Unable to Perform list after his recovery from last season’s ACL tear.
The second-year running back electrified the league as an undrafted rookie, picking up first downs on 19 of his 47 carries for 396 yards and an average of 8.4 yards per carry. He ruptured his ACL in Week 15, ending his season and sidelining him into the 2024 regular season.
After dealing with major injuries to J.K. Dobbins, Gus Edwards, and Justice Hill in recent years, the Ravens took a conservative approach with Mitchell by ensuring that he would not take on a heavy load upon his return. Derrick Henry has served as Baltimore’s primary ballcarrier with Justice Hill taking snaps on passing downs, allowing Mitchell to slowly ramp up his workload as a change-of-pace back throughout the game.
If Mitchell is able to recapture his uncatchable speed from last season, the Ravens’ already-potent offense will become even more deadly. Lamar Jackson is a frontrunner for his third MVP, and Henry merits consideration of his own. Zay Flowers has at least 100 receiving yards in four of his last five games, bringing him to fifth in the NFL with 654 yards on the year. Adding Mitchell as a ballcarrier and pass-catcher out of the backfield may be too much for any defense to stop.
The Ravens waived edge rusher Yannick Ngakoue to make room for Mitchell on the 53-man roster ahead of their Thursday night matchup with the Bengals. Baltimore also used standard practice squad elevations on linebacker Kristian Welch and defensive tackle Josh Tupou, who spent his last six NFL seasons in Cincinnati.
Ravens Waive Yannick Ngakoue; Keaton Mitchell Could Return In Week 10
Yannick Ngakoue returned to the Ravens in late September, and shortly thereafter he found himself on the team’s active roster. The veteran edge rusher’s time in the organization may be coming to an end, however. 
Ngakoue is being waived, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports. All players let go after the trade deadline are subject to waivers, putting them at risk of being claimed by an interested team. Should Ngakoue clear, though, Schefter notes the Ravens plan to retain him via a practice squad deal.
The 29-year-old had a quiet free agent market before electing to return to Baltimore early in the regular season. Between gameday elevations and time spent on the 53-man roster, Ngakoue totaled five appearances; over that span he recorded 1.5 sacks and five QB pressures. Having logged only a 25% snap share this season, the Maryland product’s limited role could help his chances of passing through unclaimed.
On the other hand, a number of teams were connected to the pursuit of an edge rush addition before this week’s trade deadline. The Cardinals (Baron Browning), Lions (Za’Darius Smith) and Steelers (Preston Smith) all made moves on that front. Other teams – such as the Falcons – have shown interest in that area, and with the Giants electing to retain Azeez Ojulari the waiver wire represents the last remaining avenue (aside from in-season free agency, of course) for teams to make roster additions.
The decision to waive Ngakoue hours before the start of Baltimore’s Thursday night matchup is an indication a corresponding roster move could be coming. That could very well be the activation of running back Keaton Mitchell; a Week 10 return had previously been pointed to by head coach John Harbaugh, and NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo noted this morning an activation could be in play (video link). Indeed, the second-year back practiced in full this week, leading to the expectation he will debut tonight, per ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler.
After signing with the Ravens as an undrafted free agent, Mitchell did not make his NFL debut until Week 6 last season. During his brief period in the lineup, the East Carolina product flashed considerable potential with a yards per carry average of 8.4. An ACL tear ended his promising rookie campaign, however, and he has remained on the PUP list since roster cutdowns.
The Ravens opened Mitchell’s practice window just over two weeks ago, so he does not need to be activated in time for tonight’s matchup with the Bengals. If that does take place, though, the 22-year-old will look join a backfield which has enjoyed considerable success in 2024 with Derrick Henry and Justice Hill leading the way.
Ravens Open RB Keaton Mitchell’s Practice Window
The Ravens’ league-leading rushing attack seems like it could not get any better, but Baltimore has some additional backfield help on the way with Keaton Mitchell expected to open his 21-day practice window this week, per Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic. This is now official.
Mitchell suffered a torn ACL in his left knee last December, ending his 2023 season and landing him on the reserve/PUP list to begin this year. Before his injury, he broke out as an electrifying undrafted rookie running back with 8.4 yards per carry across eight games and 47 rushing attempts.
Mitchell was a consistent presence on the sidelines during Ravens training camp while he was in the early stages of his rehab, and more recently participated in a workout on a side field during practice. Now, he’ll be able to ramp up his participation and gradually integrate into the Ravens backfield rotation.
Baltimore has an ideal situation for Mitchell’s recovery, with Derrick Henry firmly established as the lead back and Justice Hill filling third-down duties. Mitchell will not need to assume a major role in the offense and can work as a change-of-pace back as he ramps back up to full strength.
The Ravens will want to avoid any setbacks like they faced with J.K. Dobbins in 2022 after he recovered from an torn ACL the year before. Dobbins required an additional clean-up surgery during the 2022 season and did not regain his breakaway speed until the following year.
If Mitchell is able to bring even a fraction of his 2023 explosiveness to the Ravens this season, their run game could hit another level, even though the Baltimore ground attack’s 6.2 yards per attempt and 210.9 yards per game already lead the NFL by significant margins.
Ravens Let Go Of WRs Malik Cunningham, Anthony Miller On Way To 53
The Ravens have gotten down to the required 53-man roster. Here’s how they did it:
Released:
- CB Ka’dar Hollman
- RB John Kelly
- WR Keith Kirkwood
- WR Anthony Miller
- S Daryl Worley
Waived:
- T Corey Bullock
- RB Chris Collier
- CB Bump Cooper Jr.
- WR Malik Cunningham
- G Darrian Dalcourt
- OLB Joe Evans
- TE Qadir Ismail
- QB Emory Jones
- QB Devin Leary
- G Tashawn Manning
- T Julian Pearl
- DE C.J. Ravenell
- LB Yvandy Rigby
- LB Josh Ross
- WR Dayton Wade
- CB Damarion Williams
Waived/injured:
- NT Deadrin Senat
- DT Josh Tupou
Placed on IR:
- LB Deion Jennings
- CB Christian Matthew
- CB Trayvon Mullen
- WR Isaiah Washington
- RB Owen Wright
Placed on IR (designated for return):
Placed on reserve/PUP list:
Baltimore will be without the veteran Maulet or electric Mitchell for at least four games to start the season. The other injured reserve placements, which includes two undrafted free agent signings, will miss the entire 2024 season.
For the second year in a row, the Ravens showed questionable draft decision-making as a draft pick from the current year failed to make the 53-man roster. Last year saw fifth-round cornerback Kyu Blu Kelly get waived, while this year sees sixth-round Kentucky quarterback Devin Leary get the early axe. Such occurrences were not common under former general manager Ozzie Newsome, and Ravens fans will hope that Eric DeCosta doesn’t make a habit out of wasting draft picks.
On the other hand, DeCosta continued a usual trend of analytical excellence as the Ravens continued what has become a tradition of seeing at least one undrafted rookie make the initial 53-man roster. This year, the honor goes to Maryland safety Beau Brade. Baltimore chose to enlist the young prospective talent of Brade over retaining the veteran experience of Worley, who has seen some decent time on the Ravens defense in recent years.
Ravens Place RB Keaton Mitchell On PUP
As Keaton Mitchell continues to rehab from a torn ACL, the Ravens are playing it slow with their second-year running back. According to Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic, the Ravens have placed Mitchell on the active/physically unable to perform list.
As Ryan Mink of the team’s website notes, assuming Mitchell remains on PUP throughout training camp, he’ll automatically move straight to the reserve/PUP list. This would require him to miss the first four games of the 2024 season, but that always seemed to be a likely scenario. Mitchell will only be eight months removed from his injury by the team Week 1 comes around.
John Harbaugh hinted back in May that Mitchell would likely miss the start of the season, but the head coach expressed optimism in the player’s recovery.
“But I will say he’s on schedule, maybe ahead of schedule. He’s doing really well,” Harbaugh said (via Mink). “He’s always got a smile on his face. He’s going to start jogging on the Alter-G (treadmill) next week. So that’s a positive thing and we’ll see where it goes.”
Mitchell was a notable member of Baltimore’s RB carousel in 2024. The UDFA started his career on IR but finally made his debut in October. Between Week 9 and Week 14, the rookie collected 480 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Mitchell finished his first season with an eye-popping 8.4 yards per carry. A torn ACL ended his season in December.
When Mitchell returns to the field, the running backs room will look a bit different. Derrick Henry was brought in this offseason to replace the likes of Gus Edwards and J.K. Dobbins. Justice Hill joins Mitchell as one of the team’s RB holdovers, and that duo could compete for RB2 reps when everyone is healthy.
Zrebiec reports that the Ravens also placed cornerback T.J. Tampa on PUP and linebacker Adisa Isaac on NFI. Per Mink, Isaac has been dealing with a hamstring injury that forced him to miss minicamp and OTAs. His placement on the non-football injury list certainly raises some eyebrows, but the details of the linebacker’s injury are unknown. Tampa’s injury hasn’t been reported.
Ravens Expect RB Keaton Mitchell To Return During Season
Injuries defined Keaton Mitchell‘s rookie season. The explosive running back did not debut for the Ravens until Week 6 and was done by Week 15. In between, the UDFA displayed promise.
Albeit on just 47 carries, Mitchell finished his rookie year with a monster yards-per-carry number (8.4) and offered Baltimore a new dimension in its backfield. But the East Carolina product’s ACL tear brought more of the same for a Ravens backfield that had dealt with significant J.K. Dobbins and Gus Edwards maladies in recent years. Mitchell, 22, is on track to follow Dobbins and Edwards in seeing a prior year’s injury cost him time the following season.
John Harbaugh said Wednesday that Mitchell is on track with his rehab, but the second-year RB will not be ready for training camp. Mitchell is also expected to miss some time in-season, with Harbaugh indicating a return is expected “sometime during” the 2024 campaign. This aligns with what GM Eric DeCosta said in March. The 5-foot-8 ball carrier appears a prime candidate to begin the season on the Ravens’ reserve/PUP list. That would sideline him for at least four games, but the Ravens have since made a bigger investment at running back.
The Ravens lost both Dobbins and Edwards for the 2021 season’s entirety, leading to a brigade of aging veterans stopping through. Dobbins did not land on the reserve/PUP list the following season, but the former second-rounder was not ready to go until Week 3 of the 2022 slate. He also ran into more knee trouble that year, requiring an IR stay. Edwards did land on Baltimore’s PUP list and did not start his 2022 season until Week 7 of that season. Both veterans reunited with Greg Roman in Los Angeles, and the Ravens are now a Derrick Henry-centered backfield.
Baltimore gave the two-time rushing champion a two-year, $16MM deal. With $9MM of that fully guaranteed, the Ravens have the chance to reevaluate the ninth-year veteran’s form after this season. Mitchell figures to factor into that process, with he and Justice Hill the Ravens’ primary Henry backups going into the 2024 season. The team also used a fifth-round pick on Marshall’s Rasheen Ali, providing more insurance while Mitchell rehabs.
He of a 4.37-second 40-yard dash at the 2023 Combine, Mitchell gave a Dobbins-less backfield an immediate jolt midway through last season. He totaled 138 rushing yards on nine carries in a Ravens rout of the Seahawks. The Ravens used Mitchell as a change-of-pace option last season, keeping his carry count under 10 in each of his outings, but his injury in Jacksonville certainly hurt the eventual No. 1 seed’s offense.
Mitchell can be retained — through the ERFA and RFA process — through the 2026 season, giving the Ravens a low-cost option. For now, the team will await on the Henry complementary piece’s recovery.