The Baltimore Ravens have one of the game’s best running backs in Derrick Henry, which could put former undrafted free agent Keaton Mitchell on the trade block. Despite his humble beginnings, the East Carolina product looked like one of the game’s most explosive young players during his rookie campaign. While it came in an admittedly small sample, Mitchell finished his inaugural campaign with 47 carries for 396 yards and two touchdowns, averaging an insane 8.4 yards per carry.
Unfortunately, he tore his ACL midway through the season and clearly wasn’t himself when he returned in 2024. Appearing in five games without making a start, Mitchell recorded just 30 yards on 15 carries and looked like a shell of his former self. Knee injuries can spell the end for some running backs, and it was fair to wonder if Mitchell could ever recover his pre-injury form.
Fortunately, the Ravens running back put those fears to rest in the preseason opener. The third-year pro finished the game with 68 yards and a touchdown on just nine carries, including an impressive 22-yard touchdown run. While it’s just the preseason and nobody should expect him to average over eight yards per carry, he looked like his old explosive self. Perhaps the Ravens keep him around, but if they could trade him to a needy team like the Los Angeles Chargers
I kept bringing up Keaton Mitchell on our preview shows because it’s truly not fair this offense gets another stick of dynamite added to it pic.twitter.com/WTBBnDpqTn
— Nate Tice (@Nate_Tice) August 8, 2025
Ravens, Chargers Could Agree to Keaton Mitchell Trade After Preseason Debut
Nobody believes in the power of the run game more than Los Angeles Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh. While the former NFL quarterback has his running back of the future in first-round pick Omarion Hampton, he could use a proven veteran to help ease the burden on the rookie. Running back is arguably the most physically demanding position in the game, and nobody can handle a 100% workload.
In theory, veteran Najee Harris could be that proven 1B in the rushing attack. While he never quite lived up to his first-round draft capital, he is an adequate starter when healthy, and his north-south style of running fits well with Harbaugh’s scheme. However, he’s still recovering from his fireworks-induced eye injury, and nobody knows when he’ll return to the field. Even if he comes back tomorrow, nobody knows if he’ll recapture the vision required to play the position at the NFL level.
This team needs another talented running back, especially after losing star offensive tackle Rashawn Slater for the season. Keaton Mitchell could be the perfect lightning to Hampton’s thunder, but will the Ravens trade him?
Baltimore’s Loaded Backfield
Normally, you don’t let young, talented players walk out of the building, especially when they’re on team-friendly contracts. However, the Ravens may be the exception to the rule here. Derrick Henry may be on the older side, but he’s coming off a dominant season and just signed a two-year extension. Justice Hill, meanwhile, proved to be an adequate backup last year, and his pass-catching skillset perfectly complements Henry’s.
Keaton Mitchell will be a restricted free agent next year, which means the Ravens must pay up to retain his services beyond 2025. Seeing as this team is loaded with high-priced talent, they might choose to sell high on Keaton Mitchell and trade him for whatever they can get. While the Chargers won’t give up a Day 2 pick, they might send a fifth- or sixth-round pick for his services.
Main Photo: Rafael Saunes – Imagn Images
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