Keaton Mitchell was shocked Ravens had no interest in his return

In a move that was viewed as shocking at the time, former Ravens running back Keaton Mitchell signed with the Chargers on a two-year, $9.25 million deal that included $5 million fully guaranteed as Los Angeles added speed to its backfield.

Chargers GM Joe Hortiz was in Baltimore when the Ravens signed Mitchell as an undrafted rookie in 2023. New Chargers offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel, whose offense in Miami ran through Devon Achane, now adds another speedy running back with a career average of 6.3 yards per carry. The Ravens declined to tender the restricted free agent running back, allowing the explosive dual-threat playmaker to hit free agency. The original round tender would have cost the Ravens $3.5 million, while a second-round tender would have been $5.8 million. Mitchell was limited to just five games in 2024 after recovering from a knee injury suffered as a rookie. While working his way back into form, Mitchell was inactive as a healthy scratch for the first month of the season before receiving carries down the stretch.

Now in Los Angeles, Mitchell told the media that he was shocked when the Ravens didn't reach out or even communicate their lack of interest.

Mitchell's comments will only continue to fuel debate among Ravens fans who believe the explosive running back still has untapped potential in Baltimore's offense. While the organization clearly prioritized roster flexibility, youth, and a larger workload for Derrick Henry, Mitchell's speed and home-run ability always brought a different dimension to the backfield. Now, as he begins a fresh opportunity with the , plenty of people in Baltimore will continue wondering whether the Ravens may have let a dangerous playmaker walk away too soon.