Mark Ingram will be a free agent again, with the former New Orleans Saints running back saying his goodbyes to the Baltimore Ravens on Tuesday evening. NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero confirmed his release, with salary cap commitments cited as the reasoning for Ingram’s exit. Baltimore will recoup roughly $5 million against the 2021 salary cap following the move.
This conclusion was kind of telegraphed by Ingram remaining inactive for Baltimore throughout the playoffs, despite a clean bill of health. He totaled 274 carries for 1,317 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns runs, plus 32 catches for 297 receiving yards and five touchdown receptions in two seasons with the Ravens.
A first-round pick out of Alabama back in the 2011 NFL draft, he remains the Saints’ all-time leader in career touchdown runs (50), but his close friend and old teammate Alvin Kamara is quickly gaining on him (43) and the great Deuce McAllister (49).
Could Ingram return to New Orleans in 2021? Probably not, at least not on the kind of salary he’s earned. The Saints have both Kamara ($5 million salary cap hit) and Latavius Murray ($4.2 million) under contract already, though backups Ty Montgomery and Dwayne Washington are both free agents. Murray could be a cap casualty himself, freeing up $2.5 million, but the Saints would probably go for a more affordable replacement (like Tony Jones Jr., a rookie on the practice squad) than Ingram to replace him.
Wherever he goes next, here’s hoping Ingram can land on his feet and keep running.
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