The Baltimore Ravens got so close to the Super Bowl and will look to improve themselves this offseason to make another run in 2020. But before we get to free agency and the draft, the Ravens will need to handle their own pending free agents.
Running back Gus Edwards is the latest player to draw our attention. After an impressive 2019 season that saw him split carries with starter Mark Ingram, could Edwards be the long-term answer at running back for Baltimore? We’ll take a deeper look at Edwards and how likely he is to re-sign with the Ravens this offseason.
Make sure to check out our other Ravens free-agent previews for 2020 for our in-depth look at each pending free agent.
Gus Edwards – 2019 review:
Gus Edwards led the Ravens in rushing in his rookie season with 718 yards from 137 attempts, scoring two touchdowns. His 2019 output was remarkably similar, as he finished with 711 yards off 133 carries, again finding the end zone twice. While his attempts-per-game average fell to 8.3, his yards-per-attempt average rose from 5.2 to 5.3.
His efficiency stats, like his main stats, also bear a striking resemblance to those of 2018. Last season, Edwards amassed 376 yards after contact at an average of 2.8 yards after contact per attempt, after posting 362 yards at a 2.6-yard average in 2018. Edwards was also able to boost his receiving production after just two catches in his rookie season, though it should be noted that this improvement only stretched to seven receptions for 45 yards. But after two seasons Edwards can proudly claim that he has caught 100% of his career targets (9-of-9).
Edwards was a steady compiler in 2019, with only 15 of his runs gaining zero yards or losing yards. He did have five runs of 20 yards or more, with a 63-yard touchdown run against the Houston Texans in Week 11 being his longest play of the season. Mark Ingram, the Ravens lead running back, only had six such runs on 69 more carries than Edwards.
In all, Edwards was a solid complement to Ingram and Lamar Jackson whenever called upon in 2019.