Will Ravens regret letting Keaton Mitchell depart for the Chargers?

That logic recently resurfaced during a discussion on 105.7 The Fan, where former NFL executive Vinny Cerrato made a simple but fair observation. Derrick Henry cannot play 100 percent of the snaps. That's just part of where the second-guessing begins, because while Mitchell may not have been a perfect all-around back, explosive playmakers don’t exactly grow on trees. Again, who wouldn't want a 'thunder-and-lightning' combo in the backfield?

Mitchell ultimately signed a two-year deal worth $9.25 million with $5 million guaranteed from the Chargers, significantly more than what Baltimore likely envisioned paying him. At some point, difficult football decisions become financial ones, and perhaps this is where the cleanest conclusion lives. This may have been the best move for all parties involved.

Mitchell gets a fresh opportunity, a larger payday, and a potentially strong schematic fit elsewhere. Baltimore earned flexibility, younger roster control, and a chance to reshape the backfield around players it believes better fit the bigger vision. They aren't exactly hurting for talent. Justice Hill, Rasheen Ali, and recently-drafted Adam Randall certainly aren't slouches. There are also other camp bodies to evaluate: UDFAs Dontae McMillan and Elijah Tau-Tolliver.

Will the Ravens regret it if Mitchell explodes in Los Angeles? It's possible, but this is how the game goes. The salary cap makes it nearly impossible to keep everyone.

Will the move look smart if Adam Randall develops into a more complete long-term contributor? That's also possible. Sometimes the 'right' decision isn’t immediately obvious. Sometimes, both sides simply needed a fresh start, and if that proves true, this may become one of those rare NFL separations where everyone walks away better for it.

This article originally appeared on Ravens Wire: Keaton Mitchell's departure remains a major Ravens storyline