Why Saquon Barkley, Josh Jacobs, and Derrick Henry Would (and Wouldn’t) Be Good Fits
The Ravens are anticipated to be out there for a beginning caliber operating again, and there’s a plethora of completed veterans set to hit free company.
The Baltimore Banner’s Jonas Shaffer checked out 9 pending free agent operating backs and the way every would (and would not) match with the Ravens.
Here’s what Shaffer needed to say in regards to the three greatest names on the record (with projected contracts by Pro Football Focus):
Projected contract: $12 million yearly (three years, $36 million)
Why he’d match: “Behind one of many NFL’s worst offensive strains, Barkley quietly changed into one of many league’s best runners over the previous two seasons. Only two qualifying operating backs averaged at the very least 0.4 dashing yards over anticipated per carry in each 2022 and 2023, based on the NFL’s Next Gen Stats: the Kansas City Chiefs’ Isiah Pacheco and Barkley. The 27-year-old additionally has worth within the passing sport, the place he could be a high-volume goal (139 catches over the previous three years) and a dependable go blocker.”
Why he would not:“Do the Ravens actually need to pay a premium for a ball service with questionable explosive-play potential? Barkley’s finest big-play season got here in 2022, when he ranked 14th in explosive-run price (carries of at the very least 12 yards) among the many 42 operating backs with at the very least 100 carries that yr, based on TruMedia. Last yr, Barkley ranked twenty fifth. There’s additionally the opportunity of a looming efficiency cliff; in 2021, PFF discovered that operating backs are inclined to fall off as soon as they hit 1,500 carries and have performed 5 to seven years within the NFL. Barkley has 1,201 profession carries and is coming into Year 7.”
Projected contract: $11 million yearly (three years, $33 million)
Why he’d match:“Two years in the past, Jacobs earned first-team All-Pro honors after dashing for an NFL-best 1,653 yards. His 400 receiving yards in 2022, in the meantime, are greater than any Ravens operating again underneath John Harbaugh has completed with in a single season — apart from Ray Rice. Jacobs, 26, has pedigree (first-round choose in 2019), sturdiness (at the very least 200 carries in 5 straight seasons) and stable ball safety (145 rushes per fumble over his profession).”
Why he would not:“In 2022, with defenses largely unwilling to drop a security into the field and go away star Raiders large receiver Davante Adams on an island, Jacobs noticed a whole lot of gentle containers — and punished them accordingly. He led the NFL with 105 carries towards six or fewer defenders, based on TruMedia, and completed with a stable 5.4 yards per carry and 48.6% success price in these situations. Last season, Jacobs noticed fewer gentle containers — and was far much less efficient: 3.9 yards per carry and a run-of-the-mill 37.5% success price. It’s arduous to think about the Ravens splurging on a operating again with only one current elite season.”
Projected contract: $9 million yearly (two years, $18 million)
Why he’d match:“His arrival would give the Ravens a nightmare-fueling backfield, pairing one of many NFL’s most elusive quarterbacks with one in all its most imposing operating backs. Henry, even in his age-29 season, made probably the most of suboptimal circumstances final season. Among 49 qualifying operating backs, he ranked forty fourth in yards earlier than contact per rush (0.85) — no due to the Titans’ dismal offensive line — however eighth in yards after contact per rush (3.32), based on TruMedia. The Ravens noticed heavy containers (eight or extra defenders) on simply over a 3rd of their carries final season, close to the league common; Henry noticed them on over half of his carries, one of many NFL’s highest charges. Jackson’s gravitational pull on run defenses, together with the Ravens’ exterior weapons, might set Henry up for an enormous season.”
Why he would not:“Henry has missed multiple sport in a season simply as soon as over his eight years within the NFL, however his downhill operating model and age invite questions on how shortly his sturdiness and elusiveness would possibly evaporate. There’s additionally the query of schematic match. Henry averaged 5.1 yards per carry over the previous two seasons out of the shotgun — the 2 most shotgun-heavy seasons of his profession, based on Sports Info Solutions — however he spent a lot of his Tennessee profession lining up in under-center formations. Former Titans teammate Taylor Lewan additionally stated not too long ago on his ‘Bussin’ With The Boys’ podcast that Henry wasn’t a fan of read-option and run-pass-option performs. Would he be snug within the Ravens’ shotgun- and pistol-heavy offense, with its menu of choices and RPOs?”
