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Baltimore Ravens roster building: The running backs edition

By Chris Schisler

BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - JANUARY 11: Lamar Jackson #8 of the Baltimore Ravens hands the ball off to Mark Ingram #21 against the Tennessee Titans during the AFC Divisional Playoff game at M&T Bank Stadium on January 11, 2020 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Will Newton/Getty Images)
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - JANUARY 11: Lamar Jackson #8 of the Baltimore Ravens hands the ball off to Mark Ingram #21 against the Tennessee Titans during the AFC Divisional Playoff game at M&T Bank Stadium on January 11, 2020 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Will Newton/Getty Images) /
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HOUSTON, TEXAS – JANUARY 04: Devin Singletary #26 of the Buffalo Bills runs the ball from the end zone as Dion Dawkins #73 blocks Whitney Mercilus #59 of the Houston Texans in the first half of the AFC Wild Card Playoff game at NRG Stadium on January 04, 2020 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images)
HOUSTON, TEXAS – JANUARY 04: Devin Singletary #26 of the Buffalo Bills runs the ball from the end zone as Dion Dawkins #73 blocks Whitney Mercilus #59 of the Houston Texans in the first half of the AFC Wild Card Playoff game at NRG Stadium on January 04, 2020 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images) /

Perspective from around the NFL:

It should be noted that the Ravens aren’t the only team making savvy running back decisions. The Buffalo Bills have a good young running back in Devin Singletary and they just added an exciting rookie in Zack Moss. Both of them can become stars, but for the next three to four years they have a good combination.

The Chiefs found the perfect running back for their offense when they drafted Clyde Edwards Hellaire. If Damien Williams didn’t opt out, this would have been one heck of a combination. You may not have heard of the other Chiefs running backs but that means they don’t cost much and Andy Reid will keep backs who will provide value. I could go on, but the point is that the running backs position is a team that a handful of NFL teams really get. The moral of the story is don’t break the bank and add as much affordable talent as you can.

The Saints are in a very interesting position. Kamara is one of the most dynamic players in the NFL and Drew Brees isn’t getting younger. Next season the Saints could be in a very similar situation as the Carolina Panthers, leaning on an incredible running back, a running back whose value allows you to break the “Don’t pay running backs rule.”

What the Saints should have done was attack the running back position in the 2020 NFL Draft. They have a loaded roster and they didn’t have to desperately fill any position in the draft. They could have afforded to look towards the future of their backfield. If they found a rookie set to be a star, they’d be in a more comfortable options included position.

Next. Ranking the Ravens most exciting games of 2020 season. dark

A standout rookie with Latavius Murray and Ty Montgomery could be a good trio. Losing Kamara would hurt, but with that kind of a trio they could have traded him and justified it. Whether they can justify paying Kamara big money is up to the Saints’ front office, but it’s not the ideal position to spend big money on. The Ravens do it the way it should be done.

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