For the 2025 NFL season, the Baltimore Ravens have, arguably, the best running back in the NFL in Derrick Henry. Baltimore signed Henry to a deal last year, and he put up another big season. Proving that he still has a lot left in the tank. Baltimore recently gave him an extension, so he'll be a Raven for the foreseeable future. But what about Baltimore's plans for Henry's successor? It's a fair question, even if Baltimore is a few years away from it. Baltimore does have decent depth behind Henry that could take the mantle, including the son of a Ravens playoff hero.
Keaton Mitchell is being overlooked
That would be Keaton Mitchell, the son of Anthony Mitchell, who helped the Ravens win the Super Bowl in 2000 with a key blocked field goal (by Keith Washington) return for a touchdown in the AFC Divisional round against the Tennessee Titans. Baltimore scooped Mitchell up in undrafted free agency in 2023. The speedy back made a key impact on Baltimore's high-powered offense in his rookie season, rushing for 396 yards and two touchdowns in eight games.
Unfortunately, Mitchell suffered a torn ACL just as he was getting going, and it limited him in 2024, while Justice Hill took the majority of the snaps as the number two running back behind Henry. Mitchell only played in five games last year. Now, Mitchell is fully recovered from the torn ACL and could factor into the Ravens' plans at running back. His speed and burst are a combination you cannot keep off the field. Mitchell could be a guy the Ravens turn to as Henry's successor.
Pro Football Focus's Trevor Sikkema might not see it that way and thinks the Ravens should look to the draft for a future running back. Sikkema writes:
"Henry earned the highest PFF rushing grade of his career (93.1) during his age-31 season. He signed a contract extension that added two more years to his deal, but we know how it goes with running backs — when they decline, they often do so quickly. The question is: Is Henry's successor on the roster?"
"Justice Hill has been more of a third-down back and is approaching 30 years old himself.Keaton Mitchell looked great in 2023, leading the league in yards after contact per attempt (5.68), but tore his ACL late in the year. Rasheen Ali has yet to get significant time in the rotation."
Mitchell showed a lot of potential in his rookie season. If he can bounce back fully from the injury this season and show the Ravens the talent he displayed in 2023, Baltimore doesn't have to look in the draft to find their future feature back. In an offense full of talent, Mitchell might be the most underrated.