According to multiple reports, the Baltimore Ravens have withdrawn their tender for running back Ty’Son Williams. The move immediately makes Williams a free agent, free to sign with any team of his choosing.

The Ravens are loaded at the running back position. Both J.K. Dobbins and Gus Edwards will return in 2022 after suffering season-ending knee injuries last summer. The Ravens also used a sixth-round selection in the 2022 NFL Draft on former Missouri running back Tyler Badie. Earlier this week, the Ravens added another veteran running back to their roster by signing Mike Davis, who was recently released by the Atlanta Falcons. This is now a crowded running back room, and there was simply no room left for Williams.

A former undrafted free agent out of BYU, Williams impressed in limited action in 2021. Williams accounted for 65 rushing yards and a touchdown on just nine carries in a thrilling Week 1 overtime loss to the Las Vegas Raiders. Williams followed that up with a 77-yard performance against the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 2.

Williams should garner some interest from franchises who are looking to add to their running back depth chart. We’ve swiftly identified three fits that make sense on the surface.

ATLANTA FALCONS

Atlanta consistently featured one of the worst rushing attacks throughout the 2021 campaign. Arthur Smith’s Falcons averaged just 85.4 rushing yards per game in 17 regular-season contests. The Falcons recently released veteran running back Mike Davis, who totaled 503 rushing yards on 138 carries last season. Davis was a big part of Atlanta’s backfield last season, and his departure leaves the Falcons with little in the form of proven depth at running back. Falcons General Manager Terry Fontenot wisely re-signed Cordarrelle Patterson earlier this offseason, but Patterson is more of a do-it-all weapon than he is a traditional backfield ball carrier.

Fontenot hasn’t done much to address the team’s depth issue at running back. The Falcons signed 30-year-old running back Damien Williams to a low-cost one-year deal, but Williams struggled to make an impact as a member of the Chicago Bears last season. A former Super Bowl winner with the Chiefs, Williams’ best years are undoubtedly behind him. Fontenot also drafted former BYU running back Tyler Allgeier with a fifth-round selection in the 2022 NFL Draft, but it’s difficult to imagine him making a sizable year-one impact. Williams would immediately contend for carries in Atlanta’s muddied backfield.

NEW ORLEANS SAINTS

The Saints recently showed interest in free-agent running back Sony Michel by hosting him on an official visit. Michel opted to sign a contract with the Miami Dolphins instead. It proves that Saints General Manager Mickey Loomis is considering adding more talent to his running back room. After missing out on Michel, perhaps Loomis will show interest in Williams, who is fully capable of upgrading the depth behind Alvin Kamara and Mark Ingram II.

The Saints are wisely considering adding insurance to their running back position group. Kamara is a superstar, but heavy workloads may finally be getting to him. Kamara appeared in a career-low 13 regular-season contests in 2021 after suffering a mid-season knee injury. Ingram will turn 33 years old in December and averaged a rather pedestrian 3.8 yards per carry in seven appearances with the Saints last season. New Orleans’ current RB3 is Tony Jones Jr., who failed to take advantage of his opportunities in relief of Kamara and Ingram. Jones rushed for just 27 yards on 16 carries while earning a late-November start against the Buffalo Bills. The Saints made just five selections in the 2022 NFL Draft, and ultimately opted against drafting a rookie ball-carrier. Williams would provide the depth Loomis is searching for.

NEW YORK GIANTS

New York must start pondering the future of their running back position. New Giants General Manager Joe Schoen inherited a franchise with question marks all over its roster. Starting running back Saquon Barkley is entering an ever-important contract season in 2022 after having his fifth-year option declined. Schoen was not a part of the regime that drafted Barkley in the first place and the former Penn State standout’s future in East Rutherford remains in doubt.

New Giants Head Coach Brian Daboll routinely received production from lesser-known running backs in Buffalo as the Bills’ offensive coordinator, and if Schoen and Daboll copy Buffalo’s model, they won’t be investing premium draft capital or significant dollars into the position anytime soon.

Barkley has struggled to remain healthy throughout his less-than-impressive tenure as a Giant, and the current depth chart boasts less-than-ideal backup options. Matt Breida signed with the Giants earlier this offseason after building a relationship with Schoen and Daboll in Buffalo last year, but inconsistent play limited Breida to just 26 carries and a special teams role last season. The Giants did not draft a running back despite making a league-leading 11 selections in the 2022 NFL Draft. Williams could quickly carve out a role for himself in the Giants’ questionable backfield.