Ravens 2024 position review: Running Backs

Breaking down the individual seasons of every player who played meaningful snaps this past year. 

With the 2024 season officially in the books and the start of the new league year less than a month away, it’s the perfect time to review the Baltimore Ravens one position group at a time before completely turning the page forward to gearing up for 2025.

In the next installment of this article series, the running backs are up after a year where they were spearheaded by the arrival of a future Hall of Famer who elevated the play of the entire offense.

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Derrick Henry

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The Ravens offense already proved to be among the NFL’s elite in the first year under Todd Monken in 2023 with Gus Edwards as the featured back. Henry’s addition took it to an even higher level as he supercharged their ground game and became the first player not named Lamar Jackson to lead the team in rushing yards since 2018. His 1,921 yards on the ground were second in the league behind only Saquon Barkley, he became the first player in NFL history to have multiple seasons of 1,800-plus rushing yards, tied for the most rushing touchdowns in the league (16) and led all running backs in yards per carry (5.9).

Henry was well worth every penny of the bargain two-year deal worth $16 million the Ravens signed him for last offseason. He could’ve had an even more monster year had he gotten the ball more consistently in games where they should’ve leaned on him more. His legendary physicality was on full display throughout the season with several viral stiff arms and he proved he still possesses the breakaway speed to break off long runs for 20-plus yards and even house calls. He finished with the second-most scrimmage yards in a season of his career (2,114) after hauling in 19 catches for 193 yards and tied his single-season career high in total touchdowns (18).

Justice Hill

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While Henry headlined the Ravens’ talented backfield, Hill was its unsung hero who flashed his dynamic playmaking ability as a perfect slashing complement to the five-time Pro Bowl hammer. The aspect of the game where Hill shined the brightest was on third down and obvious passing situations both as a pass catcher out of the backfield as well as a pass protector when he stayed behind to offer chip help and pick up blitzes. His contributions in those areas helped make the Ravens one of the best two-minute and up-tempo offenses in the league with the way they could move the ball down the field quickly and in rhythm. Hill was a weapon on screens, checkdowns and running routes downfield against outmatched linebackers.

Even though he recorded more than 150 fewer rushing yards than he did the year before (387-228), the six-year veteran still managed to set a new career high in combined scrimmage yards because of his uptick in usage as a pass catcher. Hill recorded career highs in targets (51), receptions (42), receiving yards (383), yards per target (9.1) and touchdowns (three). He also picked up 183 yards as a kick returner to bring his all-purpose total to 794 including a long of 59.

Keaton Mitchell

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The 2023 undrafted free agent gem had his sophomore season debut delayed while the Ravens exercised extreme caution with his rehabilitation process following the major knee injury that cut his electric rookie year short. Mitchell spent the first nine weeks of the regular season on the Physically Unable to Perform list and even upon his return, he didn’t see much action on offense and was used more in the kick return game instead.

Mitchell was active for just five games in the regular season and both playoff contests but only saw offensive snaps in four with the most extensive coming in a pair of blowout victories to close out the year. He only got to carry the ball 15 times and picked up just 30 net rushing yards but he did manage to rip off a 28-yard gain in his lone target and reception as a result of a well-executed screen. As a kick returner, Mitchell recorded 156 yards on five opportunities for an average of 31.2 with a long of 47.

Rasheen Ali

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With the Ravens’ veteran two-headed monster, there wasn’t much of a role for the 2024 fifth-rounder as a rookie. A neck injury he suffered during the preseason caused him to spend the first five weeks of the regular season on injured reserve before being activated in Week 6. He played exclusively on special teams in his debut before being a healthy scratch for the next six games. Ali didn’t get to take his first snap on offense until after the Ravens’ Week 14 bye and finished the season with 10 carries for 31 yards and no catches on two targets in six appearances and was inactive for both playoff games. On special teams, he covered and returned kicks, recording 107 yards on four kick return attempts with a long of 38 and made an assisted tackle.