Lesser-mentioned Ravens star lands on CBS Sports list of 2025 breakout stars

USA Today

6 hours ago

Lesser-mentioned Ravens star lands on CBS Sports list of 2025 breakout stars Ravens running back Keaton Mitchell earns national spotlight in new NFL prediction from CBS Sports
It's too early to make predictions. It's only June, but even though the mind says 'don't get excited', the heart, more often than not, refuses to listen. This Baltimore Ravens team looks good on paper, and even though games aren't played on looseleaf, every glance at the roster produces adrenaline.
This team sent 11 of its players to the Pro Bowl last season. All of them are back. DeAndre Hopkins was added during free agency.
Malaki Starks and Mike Green were drafted. The new faces have an opportunity to add more punch to an already formidable roster.
Then again, so do some of the guys who have already been here. May we present Keaton Mitchell for your consideration?
CBS Sports names Keaton Mitchell as a player to watch
Mention the Ravens and why they are a Super Bowl contender, and several names may come up before a backup running back. Keaton Mitchell was added to Baltimore's roster as an undrafted rookie free agent.
Pro Football Focus named him as one of the NFL's best UDFA prospects during that offseason. CBS Sports recently named him as an under-the-radar player to watch in their dig on one player from each team who could make a surprising impact.
Tyler Sullivan wrote this one up and did a great job. Here's some of his reasoning for mentioning Mitchell as the Ravens representative.
"For a six-week stretch during the 2023 season, Mitchell was a lightning rod. The back averaged 8.4 yards per rush and 10.5 yards per reception. However, that run ended when he suffered a torn ACL that also put a dent in his 2024 campaign. Now, Mitchell is back healthy and noted recently that he feels 'like I'm back better than when I first got to Baltimore'. Of course, Derrick Henry will carry the bulk of the work out of the Ravens' backfield, but Mitchell could prove to be a change-of-pace option with home run ability for what is already one of the best rushing attacks in the NFL."
Henry and Mitchell could provide some 'thunder and lightning'. The latter is no stranger to adversity or this Ravens offense. An undrafted rookie free agent selected after the 2023 NFL Draft, Pro Football Focus named him as one of the best UDFAs taken that offseason, but two days after making the 53-man roster, he found his way to the injured reserve.
He returned in Week 6 and appeared in eight games with two starts before seeing his season end with a torn ACL. He began last season on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list but was activated for Week 10. For his career, he has notched 426 yards and two TDs on 62 carries. Keep an eye on him as the Ravens begin another run, and expect some big moments because even though the opportunities will be limited, he'll be able to deliver a few.