They’ve just started giving him more of the ball, but Keaton Mitchell is still an intriguing trade chip for the Baltimore Ravens, especially if they can flip the running back for an “explosive” wide receiver from the Kansas City Chiefs.
It’s a trade proposal mapped out by Doug Farrar of Athlon Sports. He believes the Ravens would be wise to swap Mitchell for KC wideout Tyquan Thornton.
As Farrar put it, “This deal would put two very good, but underutilized, players in new locations that could improve their prospects.”
Farrar went on to cite “Mitchell’s lack of utilization is high among them. In his rookie season, Mitchell gained 396 yards and scored two rushing touchdowns on just 47 carries, but he’s seen his snaps decrease ever since. If the Ravens don’t want a player with Mitchell’s explosive potential, they can send him to a team in need of a back who can do a lot of things.”
The problem here is the Ravens recently unveiled a new plan for Mitchell. It involved an expanded workload for the dynamic former undrafted free agent.
While it appears the Ravens still have use for Mitchell, Farrar does make a compelling case for why Thornton would be a useful addition to an offense set to welcome back franchise quarterback Lamar Jackson after an injury layoff.
Tyquan Thornton Trade Makes Sense for Ravens
Thornton’s potential availability ahead of this year’s 2025 NFL trade deadline on Tuesday, November 4 is clear, according to Farrar. He noted how the former New England Patriots pass-catcher “got a lot of reps earlier this season when the Chiefs’ receiver corps was battling injuries and suspensions, but especially with the return of Rashee Rice from his six-game suspension, Thornton has been the odd man out. He had just two snaps against the Washington Commanders in Week 8, and that’s been a declining trend for the last month.”
Although Thornton is getting less work with the Chiefs, Farrar envisages a clear role for the 25-year-old with the Ravens. It’s one based on having the second-round pick in the 2022 NFL draft take the top off of defenses more often than Jackson’s other receivers have managed.
Thornton’s ability to do just that is summed up by his “six catches on passes of 20 or more air yards this season, as Zay Flowers and DeAndre Hopkins are tied for the lead with three each for Baltimore.”
A healthy again Jackson will need a target who can get vertical the way Thornton did for this deep grab against the New York Giants in Week 3.
A Ravens passing game that’s generated just 19 catches of 20-plus yards, including two totalling 40 or more, could use Thornton’s talents. Yet, there are other ways to stretch the field, even on the ground, where Mitchell is still a major threat.
Keaton Mitchell Still Has Value
The Ravens still need Mitchell’s game-breaking speed in their rushing attack. He’s a natural complement to the brute force of two-time NFL rushing champion Derrick Henry, so Mitchell can be as valuable as any deep threat among Jackson’s receivers.
Mitchell offered a timely reminder of his core skills with this impressive gain off tackle against the Chicago Bears in Week 8.
Getting Mitchell onto the field more often should be the priority for offensive coordinator Todd Monken. He must build a more exciting unit led by a versatile ground game.
It means that although Thornton is a sensible trade target for the Ravens, they shouldn’t be giving up Mitchell to get him.
Like Heavy Sports’s content? Be sure to follow us.
This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
The post Ravens Urged to Trade Keaton Mitchell for ‘Explosive’ Chiefs WR appeared first on Heavy Sports.