Free agent running back Boston Scott is back in the news as the trade deadline comes to a close. A former sixth-round pick by the New Orleans Saints, the Louisianna Tech product made a name for himself with the Philadelphia Eagles. Spending six years with the club, the do-everything backup finished his time in the City of Brotherly Love with 1,295 yards and 16 touchdowns on 302 carries. While he never became a regular starter, the veteran demonstrated an ability to do a little bit of everything while being an adequate short-term option.
Scott left the Eagles and spent portions of the 2024 offseason with the Los Angeles Rams and Pittsburgh Steelers but suffered a meniscus injury before the season. Jordan Schultz of Fox Sports reports the running back is fully recovered and has a visit with the New Orleans Saints, but they won’t be the only team interested in the veteran. Historically speaking, running back is one of the most injury-prone positions in sports and contenders can never have too many reliable players at the position. If New Orleans doesn’t sign him, the Baltimore Ravens easily could.
Saints, Ravens Could Sign Free Agent Boston Scott
Even though it’s only Week 10, the 2-7 New Orleans Saints season is already over. While they’re not mathematically eliminated from the playoffs, they’d need a minor miracle after losing seven straight games and firing head coach Dennis Allen. At first glance, it doesn’t make much sense for a team like New Orleans to use any resources on a short-term running back like Boston Scott. However, a deeper dive shows that this signing might be necessary.
One of Dennis Allen’s final acts as head coach was to place the constantly banged-up Kendre Miller on the injured reserve. The former third-round pick has struggled to stay on the field throughout his short NFL career, and the TCU product has drawn Allen’s ire on more than one occasion. With Miller gone and Jamaal Williams battling injuries of his own, the team could have no choice but to sign a veteran like Boston Scott. Interim head coach Darren Rizzi will want to show what he can do with full control of the team, and signing Scott will help this team compete down the stretch.
Derrick Henry Insurance
Derrick Henry refuses to give into age, playing like the NFL’s best running back and already hitting the 1,000-yard mark through just nine games. Boston Scott is not better than him, and in a perfect world, the Ravens won’t need the free agent to do anything for this team. However, despite all the evidence to the contrary, Derrick Henry is mortal and is susceptible to injury. Considering how much the Ravens lean on the rushing attack, this team could use someone like Boston Scott to bolster the depth chart.
At this point in his career, it’s possible that Boston Scott simply doesn’t have anything left in his tank. However, if he just needed meniscus surgery, he could carve out a role on this team. Justice Hill is an unremarkable backup while 2023 undrafted free agent Keaton Mitchell is a major unknown coming off of his injury. Maybe he can’t earn a roster spot right away, but Scott could fill a spot on the practice squad and show head coach John Harbaugh that he can still play.
