Baltimore Ravens running back, J.K. Dobbins, recently posted some cryptic Tweets. It has led to speculation that the young running back could be on his way out of Baltimore soon.
Dobbins, the projected workhorse back for Baltimore this year, recently Tweeted out what sounded like a ‘thank you’ note to Baltimore fans. After showing his desire to remain a Raven for life, Dobbins then followed his Tweet up with “idk tho sadly”. This message was subsequently deleted.
https://twitter.com/Jkdobbins22/status/1664369065232572416
He then Tweeted out another post, which pledged his allegiance to Baltimore, even when he is “gone”.
https://twitter.com/Jkdobbins22/status/1664369589671608321
All of this has led to speculation that the 24-year-old running back could be on leaving Baltimore. It is unclear what has happened behind the scenes. However, 2023 is a contract year for Dobbins.
Dobbins is currently coming off his second injury-ridden season. The 2020 second-round pick flashed in his rookie season, which led many to believe that 2021 would be a breakout season for him. However, a season-ending ACL injury ruled him out for the entirety of 2021.
Entering 2022, Dobbins clapped back at Ian Rapoport’s report that his rehab was taking longer than expected. While fans appreciated Dobbins’ confidence, 2022 was a year to forget for the former Ohio State Buckeye. The ACL injury, coupled with various other niggles, hampered Dobbins’ production.
After an injury-filled career so far, Dobbins is looking to set the record straight in 2023. A lot of fans and pundits believe this could be a surprise breakout season for him, and a lot of analytics suggest so too.
#Ravens JK Dobbins – RB numbers drop hard in year 1 off multi-lig surgery, but our algorithm projected Dobbins’s dip to last 19 months.
As he approached that timeline in the last 5 games of ’22, he averaged 100 ypg and 6 ypc.
Now well past that, data strongly favors a…
— Deepak Chona, MD. SportsMedAnalytics (@SportMDAnalysis) June 2, 2023
J.K. Dobbins Posts Cryptic Tweet Regarding Ravens Future
What We Know About J.K. Dobbins’ Cryptic Tweet
Dobbins’ latest cryptic posts come after a quietly saga-filled off-season for the running back. It started after the Wildcard game against the Cincinnati Bengals.
Straight after the Ravens’ Super Bowl hopes were dashed, Dobbins spoke up. He complained about his lack of involvement. He was particularly frustrated about Tyler Huntley’s game-ending fumble, arguing that he should have been the one carrying the ball.
J.K. Dobbins has every right to be upset. He’s been unstoppable inside the 20s and but couldn’t get one – not ONE – carry inside the 5.
Dobbins said: “It’s the playoffs. Why am I not out there? Twelve carries? It's the playoffs.”#Ravens #Bengals
— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) January 16, 2023
This frustration has been a theme throughout the off-season. It was most recently shown when Dobbins Tweeted out “just imagine…” to one of his highlight videos.
Just imagine if…. Nevermind… 🙃 https://t.co/ZopTBP7tlb
— Jk dobbins (@Jkdobbins22) April 24, 2023
Given how Dobbins’ off-season has gone, his recent Tweets are not surprising. While no one has any concrete information on Dobbins’ situation yet, Sarah Ellison believes that the dissatisfaction stems from a contract dispute.
Not positive this is what's going on, but this is the type of tweet players often put out when they're trying to negotiate a new deal. It'd also be a reason to not be at OTAs. Negotiation tactics. JK Dobbins is in the final year of his rookie deal and will make $1.3M in base… https://t.co/dVLaaJk4O0
— Sarah Ellison (@sgellison) June 1, 2023
With Dobbins set to be a free agent in the 2024 off-season, this could very well be the case. He is likely expecting to be paid well, as a top running back should. However, given the landscape of the running back economy, coupled with Dobbins’ injury history, Baltimore may not view Dobbins as worth paying.
Why Parting Ways Might Make Sense
Does parting ways with Dobbins make sense amidst the cryptic Tweets? Perhaps. Dobbins’ cryptic messages on Twitter this off-season have frustrated many Ravens fans. Some have even gone as far as to call him a ‘diva’.
While that is not enough to part ways with a good player, there are many more reasons. The injury history simply cannot be overlooked. While Dobbins has been uber-productive since returning from his latest injury, there is no guarantee that he will be a consistent contributor. The Ravens struggled without him last year. There is a good case that they ought to move off him altogether to rebuild their running game around a consistently healthy running back.
This is especially true given the running back economy in the NFL. It is no secret that running back is among the least-valued positions in the NFL. Just look at Austin Ekeler’s situation. As such, Baltimore may not find it apt to pay Dobbins big money.
Perhaps, however, the most important thing to note is that Dobbins has yet to prove himself in Todd Monken’s system. It is not immediately clear that Dobbins is a perfect scheme fit for Monken’s offense. At Georgia, Monken was known to heavily utilize receiving backs. Dobbins, however, is not known as an effective pass catcher. That is why a lot of pundits believe that UDFA Keaton Mitchell could find a role, especially considering how much he has impressed so far.
How Could Baltimore Replace Dobbins?
Considering that Dobbins enters a contract year, Baltimore might be willing to let Dobbins go if a strong trade offer comes in. Any value for an injury-riddled running back on the last year of his contract would be good.
However, if Baltimore opt to let Dobbins leave, whether that be this year or next, they will need a backup lined up. The obvious scenario is finding Dobbins’ successor through the 2024 NFL Draft. Tre’Veyon Henderson, another Buckeye, could be a name to watch here.
If Baltimore part ways with Dobbins earlier, the team have a few different options. Many fans have been linking Dalvin Cook to Baltimore. The Pro Bowl running back is one of the league’s top receiving backs and would do wonders in Monken’s system.
Kareem Hunt might also be a good shout on a prove-it deal. The former Cleveland Brown is currently a free agent. Hunt would be able to give some insight about his former team as well as be a productive versatile back for Monken’s offense.
Main Photo: Kareem Elgazzar/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK
