McGahee Released by Ravens

Willis McGahee will reportedly be released by the Ravens this offseason.  One of the league's best backs at finding the endzone, McGahee has scored 20 TDs in the last two years.  He's a tough, hardnosed runner, but he became too expensive as a secondary back for the Ravens, who have Ray Rice as their feature back.

McGahee is turning 30 this year; he's no spring chicken by NFL running back standards.  He does have some gas left in the tank though, and will provide a solid backup option for any team that he decides to play for.



The 6'0", 235 lb back has averaged 4.0 yards per carry over his career, and as I mentioned, seems to be able to find ways to get into the endzone.  In his last 3 seasons, he's carried the ball 379 times and only fumbled 6 times, so he's sure handed as well.

Will he be an option for the Seahawks?  My gut feeling is no.  They have Lynch as their power back and Forsett as their secondary/complementary option.  I would guess that McGahee would command too high a price tag for the type of role he'd be playing. There are dozens of free-agents that would come cheaper and be able to contribute as the 3rd RB.

There is, however, another player from the Ravens that I'd love to see end up a Seahawk:  Free agent Fullback Le'Ron McClain. (seriously, how could you NOT want a guy that smiles like that for his individual photo)

Another guy with a penchant for scoring touchdowns, McClain could come in to play FB for the Hawks.  Michael Robinson is a free agent, and it is unknown if he'll resign at this point.  Even if he does, I am not sure he has the frame to play FB a full season and stay healthy.  If the Hawks desire to implement a power-running offense, FB becomes a need.  Last season, the Alex Gibbs/Jeremy Bates offense didn't initially utilize the FB very much, but as the season progressed, we saw more and more of Michael Robinson.  He got hurt in week 7 and missed the next five games, forcing Jon Carlson to fill the void.  Robinson came back for the final seven games and played well.  Really, although I think that Mike did an amazing job at FB considering he was a college QB, neither him nor Carlson really fit the prototype of an NFL Fullback.

At 6'0", 260, McClain does.  The 26 year old is a two-time Pro-Bowler, that rushed for 908 yrds and 10 TDs on 232 carries in 2008 (3.8 YPC), the last time he got significant carries.  After only managing 28 carries last year, it seems as though he may be looking for a more central role on a new team.  When asked about returning to Baltimore, he replied,

If I was [coming back], I would probably have been used a little bit more this season and the past two years, it is what is. I’m over that now. Four great years in Baltimore. Now, I’m just looking forward to the future.

Where he does end up is anyone's guess, but I wouldn't mind seeing the Hawks pursue the free-agent.  He'd be a great lead back for Lynch at 260lbs, and could aptly handle goal-line dives and draws as well.

Here's Le'Ron McClain doing his version of Beastmode: