Keaton Mitchell Was ‘Shocked’ Ravens Didn’t Tender Him

The Ravens’ decision not to tender restricted free-agent running back Keaton Mitchell this offseason not only surprised fans, but it also came as a surprise to Mitchell, who subsequently signed with the Los Angeles Chargers.

“I was shocked. I ain’t gonna lie,” Mitchell said in a media session earlier this week. “I can’t even describe it, for real.”

Mitchell didn’t remain a free agent for long. He said the Chargers called “like 20 seconds” after he hit the open market.

“My agent told me, ‘They want to get you on a Zoom right now,'” said Mitchell, who signed a two-year deal reportedly worth $9.2 million.

Chargers General Manager Joe Hortiz was the Ravens’ Director of Player Personnel when Mitchell signed with Baltimore as an undrafted free agent in 2023. Mitchell, who played for John Harbaugh the past three seasons, will now play for his brother, Jim.

When a reporter brought up that the Ravens will play the Chargers this season, Mitchell smiled and said: “I know that. And it’s [in Baltimore]. I’m pretty sure it’s still love from the fans. It’s going to be fun.”

Mitchell joins a running backs room that includes 2025 first-round pick Omarion Hampton and Kimani Vidal.

Mitchell averaged an NFL-high 8.4 yards per carry in six games in 2023, but a late-season knee injury ended his rookie year and cost him the majority of the 2024 season. He had 341 rushing yards and one touchdown on 59 carries in 13 games in 2025 after being a healthy scratch in the early part of the season.

As noted in Late for Work on Monday, DeCosta explained why the Ravens didn’t tender Mitchell during an appearance on 105.7 The Fan.

“He was going to make over $3 million this year, based on the restricted free agency system, the tender,” DeCosta said. “Not a real special teams guy. A talented space runner. He’s not necessarily the most dynamic pass-catching back. And he’s not a pass protector. He’s a runner. He’s a really, really skilled running back. But then it becomes, well, would you rather have Derrick [Henry] on the field or Keaton?

“These are hard choices to make because he’s a great dude and he’s an awesome talent.”