Does the addition of Mark Ingram mean the Ravens won't add another running back? Not necessarily.
Ravens Head Coach John Harbaugh didn't rule out the idea, when asked about the possibility at the NFL Annual Winter Meetings. Ingram, Gus Edwards, and Kenneth Dixon give the Ravens power, variety, and depth at running back. But with the Ravens putting so much emphasis on their running attack, a back with more speed could add another element to the offense.
"I like the idea of adding a shifty, third-down, home-run type hitter guy," Harbaugh said. "We might have him already. We had a pretty good rookie last year (DeLance Turner) who got hurt early in the season. I like him too. I wouldn't be surprised if we added a back into the mix and let him compete. It could be the type of back you're talking about because obviously we have some really good downhill runners. And Mark [Ingram] has some shiftiness to him, too. All our guys do."
An underrated part of Ingram's game is his ability to catch passes. From 2015-17, Ingram caught at least 46 passes for three consecutive seasons with the New Orleans Saints. Ray Rice, who caught 58 passes in 2013, is the last Ravens running back to catch 50 passes in a season. Ingram has done it twice, most recently in 2017.
Ingram's ability to gain yards between the tackles is proven, and he will give Lamar Jackson a reliable check-down option in the passing game. However, the Ravens may still look to find Harbaugh's "home run" running back in the draft. One speed back who seems to be drawing plenty of interest around the NFL is Memphis running back Darrell Henderson, who made his mark breaking off long runs in college. Henderson measured just 5-foot-8 3/8, 208 pounds at the NFL Combine, but he led this draft class in yards (1,909), yards per carry (8.9) and touchdowns (22). Henderson has enough speed that trying to catch him from behind often seems like a waste of time.
Henderson got plenty of attention from NFL scouts at his Pro Day.
The Ravens don't have a second-round pick, and their most pressing needs appear to be wide receiver, pass rusher, interior offensive line, and inside linebacker. But while the Ravens would seem unlikely to draft Henderson with the No. 22 pick, he could become an option if they trade back into the late-first or early second round.
Before the Ravens acquired Ingram, Alabama running back Josh Jacobs was a popular choice for them at No. 22 in mock drafts. But even if the Ravens still want Jacobs, his rising draft stock may take him off the board far earlier than No. 22.
By signing Ingram, the Ravens have taken away the urgency to find another running back. But as Baltimore continues to build its roster for next season, the possibility of adding another runner to the equation has not been eliminated.
