A few days ago, the Baltimore Ravens released three-time Pro Bowl running back Mark Ingram ahead of the 2021 new league year. With J.K. Dobbins developing into a star and two incredibly solid backups in Gus Edwards and Justice Hill, the Ravens couldn’t afford to keep Ingram at his $5 million salary.
Ingram has since cleared waivers and is free to sign with any team and that has us thinking; could the Raiders potentially be interested in his services? First and foremost, Ingram can still play.
In his two years with the Ravens, Ingram averaged 4.8 yards per carry and scored 17 touchdowns on 306 touches. He made the Pro Bowl in 2019 after totaling 1,265 yards and 15 touchdowns on just 228 carries. He did battle a few injuries over the 2020 season but still managed to average 4.2 yards per rush.
Ingram is still a devastating runner between the tackles and is the type of veteran you want in your locker room. His ability to push piles and grind out the “hard yards” is exactly what Jon Gruden wants from his tailbacks. Is Ingram in the prime of his career? No. But can he be a great role player and complementary back on a run-first team?? Yes.
It is worth mentioning that Devontae Booker, the team’s No. 2 running back in 2020, is scheduled to become a free agent. Booker did have a fairly big role with the team this season, seeing 110 touches on offense. While he might be the more explosive running back at this time, there is no question that Ingram is the more polished and tougher inside runner.
Ingram likely won’t receive $5 million in free agency as his expected cap hit could be half of that. But if the Raiders want to add a proven running back behind Josh Jacobs, Ingram might be the perfect fit at a very affordable price. This pairing makes a lot of sense for both parties.
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