The 2026 offseason did both good and bad for the Baltimore Ravens. It was mostly good, as they tore down the old coaching regime and look like a team ready to bounce back and do damage this upcoming season. However, there were some tough losses along the way.
At the top of that list might be the departure of electrifying running back Keaton Mitchell. Mitchell’s situation was a weird one and completely avoidable. The Ravens didn’t tender Mitchell, which allowed him to hit unrestricted free agency. Mitchell eventually cashed in on the opportunity, signing with the Los Angeles Chargers for two years, $9.25 million.
The move was highly polarizing among the fanbase. Mitchell’s tender was $3.52 million, which seemed like chump change. Baltimore opted to use that money elsewhere, though. In a recent interview on 105.7 The Fan, general manager Eric DeCosta detailed the surprising thought process.
“Again, [Mitchell is] not a real special teams guy. A talented space runner. He’s not necessarily the most dynamic pass-catching back, so then it becomes, well, would you rather have Derrick on the field or Keaton?”
Baltimore Ravens’ thought process behind polarizing free agent call is now crystal clear
The Mitchell decision was tough, and it still hurts. The thought of having Mitchell and Derrick Henry in the same backfield always seemed like a dream duo with a thunder and lightning type of playstyle. After hiring Declan Doyle, that duo seemed even more dynamic. Unfortunately, we won’t get to see it. And it may actually seem like the right move just a couple of months later.
That extra money that Baltimore saved by cutting ties with Mitchell paid off in free agency. They’ve signed intriguing contributors like Trey Hendrickson, John Simpson, Jaylinn Hawkins, and Calais Campbell, and although the Mitchell call put aside an extra $3.5 million, the move did provide some immediate cap flexibility.
Perhaps the biggest payoff is the state of the running back room following the 2026 NFL Draft. The Ravens drafted Adam Randall in the fifth round, who seems like a far better fit than Mitchell. He possesses elite size, some juice to create backbreaking plays, and also has potential as a return man. It’ll take some development, but he appears to be a much more well-rounded back than Mitchell could’ve ever been in Charm City.
Ultimately, Mitchell never reached his full potential with the Ravens. He was stuck in John Harbaugh’s doghouse in 2025, and injuries also kept him from maximizing his potential. While it was a rough way to end things, both parties could be beneficiaries as they enter the 2026 campaign.
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