Before the trade deadline of Week 9, the Ravens must make some important decisions. General manager Eric DeCosta may have to sell players with expiring contracts if they lose either of their two next games.

Keaton Mitchel was one name mentioned last week by ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, as a player that is not on the radar and could be traded before deadline. This does not mean the Ravens will be trading the third-year back. Usually, trade articles are lists of players from losing teams who have expiring contracts.

A trade of Mitchell may seem absurd at first. He averaged 8.5 yard per touch during his rookie year in 2023 before tearing his anterior cruciate ligament. In the preseason, he appeared to be fully recovered. He was a healthy scratch for four of the Ravens first six games, and he had only three carries in six offensive snaps in two appearances.

This approach is a bit confusing. Mitchell could have given Baltimore’s offense a boost in the last two games they played without Lamar Jackson. Mitchell has shown himself in regular season competition, and he looked ready to play this summer.

John Harbaugh explained Mitchell’s exclusion from the gameplan as the result of a numbers game. Rasheen Ali is preferred for special teams work by the Ravens because Derrick Henry, Justice Hill and other Ravens RBs are taking up all snaps. He is a contributor to all units, while Mitchell has been a kick-returner this year and hasn’t done well in that role.

Mitchell can be active on game day. The Ravens can deactivate Ali, or use their regular special teams practice squad and replace the players with those who are active. Mitchell could take over Justice Hill’s change of pace carries, and even some of his snaps as a receiver. The Ravens used him in pass protection for many years, but this year he was not as effective. Mitchell is still too small to play that role. However, he can be a threat on routes designed by the Ravens. Mitchell can do better than Hill, who has only 17 yards in 14 carries on the ground this season. Mitchell can also be used with Derrick Henry to form the two-back “pony” formations Todd Monken uses in the past.

The Ravens may trade Mitchell if they do not plan to use him. After the season, he will become a restricted-free agent and be eligible for an RFA label. OverTheCap estimates that he isn’t worth the $7.89m first-round tender. It is also unlikely that any team would sign him for the $5.66m second-round tender.

The Ravens will have the right to first refusal for $3.45 Million. Even this might be too much. It might be too much to ask of a third-string back who doesn’t have much of a part. This makes it easy for another team, who would not have to pay any compensation to the Ravens in order to draft him. The original-round tender wouldn’t make sense since Mitchell was a free undrafted agent. The ROFR tender would cost slightly more, but there is no chance to get a draft choice if Mitchell signs with another team.

The Ravens can clear $3.25m in cap space next offseason by parting with Hill. This would allow them the ROFR tag for Mitchell. A Jackson extension that is completed early will also give the Ravens some breathing space.

There are other ways to keep Mitchell. If this is not the plan of the team, they can try to get a pick for him now since the off-season will be impossible.

It still doesn’t seem to be the best choice for the Ravens. Mitchell is a rare athlete and could be a future explosive weapon in the Ravens’ backfield. A depth running back is also difficult to value in a deal. It feels like the best case scenario is a late Day 3 selection.

What do you think about this? What do you think?

The salary cap data and contract data are provided by OverTheCap.