Two star running backs are reportedly being pursued by the Baltimore Ravens in 2024 free agency.
According to a recent report, the Baltimore Ravens are researching their options in case they decide to pursue the top two running backs available as free agents in 2024.
This past season, the Baltimore Ravens exceeded many of their expectations. They made it to the AFC Championship game earlier this year and finished the season with the best overall record in the NFL standings. Even with quarterback Lamar Jackson’s MVP campaign, the Ravens were unable to defeat the Kansas City Chiefs.
Jackson needs more offensive weapons if they hope to win a championship and return to Baltimore for the first time since 2012, as demonstrated by the discouraging loss in January. Although it was widely believed that the team would target elite receivers in the offseason, NFL insider Jeremy Fowler asserted on ESPN’s “SportsCenter” on Friday that the team might be seeking a star to complement Jackson in the backfield.
“I’ve heard that some teams are researching the well-known running backs for homework. Baltimore is one. If the price is right, they are at least watching film on players like Derrick Henry and Saquon Barkley to see how they might fit in, according to Fowler.
He went on, “We know the running back market has been shaky in recent years, so Barkley might be pricing himself out of a place like Baltimore because based on talent he’s a player who deserves more than $10 million a year.” Can the Ravens persuade him to settle for a little less in order to pursue a championship? “Could you imagine Saquon and Lamar Jackson in the same backfield?” a league source asked me. That would be absurd.
Before the offseason begins, the Baltimore Ravens will have a little over $18 million to spend (via OverTheCap). By releases, trades, and renegotiating the contracts of some of their biggest stars, they could raise that total, though. If the Ravens make the right decisions, they have the team to win it all next season after coming dangerously close to the NFL championship game the previous year.
Barkley has expressed his desire to make a big splash and sign the league’s first big contract. As he is from New York, winning titles and playing close to home are selling points, but for the 27-year-old, getting paid will probably come first.
Derrick Henry could very well end up in Baltimore the following season, though, given his age and the financial resources at his disposal. With the value of running backs at an all-time low, the Titans legend, who made an average of $12.5 million last season, will probably see a big pay drop the following season. It therefore makes a lot of sense for him and the team to play on a contender at a lower rate.
Moreover, there were whispers during the NFL trade deadline suggesting Baltimore nearly acquired the four-time Pro Bowl player from the previous season.
