Baltimore’s 2026 NFL Draft added 11 players, including Clemson RB Adam Randall in a pick the team owner pushed for—despite injury history and a crowded backfield.
Baltimore’s 2026 NFL Draft class will be remembered for a curious behind-the-scenes moment as much as for the roster moves.
In the middle of the Ravens’ haul. the focus turned to the pick connected to their owner’s preference: Adam Randall. the Clemson running back selected in the fifth round.. The story matters because it shows how the decision-making process inside an NFL franchise can be more personal than fans often assume—right down to the owner pressing for a specific name.
Misryoum can confirm that the relationship between general manager Eric DeCosta and owner Steve Bisciotti played out publicly when DeCosta explained how Bisciotti was “begging” for a draft selection during a trip in Florida.. DeCosta’s response was simple: he told Bisciotti he could have the pick—because. as DeCosta put it. Bisciotti does own the team.. The end result was a fifth-round choice on Randall, turning a private preference into an immediate roster addition.
Randall now joins a Ravens backfield with one established star at the top.. Derrick Henry has been set as the team’s lead running back. while the rest of the depth chart continues to shift as personnel changes land elsewhere.. With Keaton Mitchell departing for the Los Angeles Chargers. Justice Hill has moved into the backup role—meaning Randall’s path to touches will be built through training camp performance. playbook familiarity. and staying on the field.
That last part is a major subplot.. Randall’s health history includes a torn ACL in 2022. along with setbacks that affected his momentum at other points. including a broken hand and a stress fracture in his toe.. For a rookie, the NFL does not forgive missed reps.. Yet the fact that Bisciotti and the Ravens were still enthusiastic about Randall suggests the team believes the payoff is worth the risk—especially when the organization already has a clear identity at running back with Henry and depth pieces competing for roles.
On the field, Randall’s college profile is also designed to make the bet feel more strategic than sentimental.. At Clemson, he began as a wide receiver before converting to running back as a senior.. That switch produced production: 814 yards and 10 touchdowns on 168 carries, along with 36 catches for 254 yards and three receiving scores.. The most important detail for an NFL transition is not just the rushing output. but the dual-threat capability—something offenses often crave when they want to move matchups and keep defenses honest.
In practical terms, Randall’s receiving background could shape how the Ravens use him early.. Even if he doesn’t take over early-down work immediately. a pass-catching back can earn snaps by being a reliable option in the flat. on check-downs. and on designed routes that keep linebackers occupied.. The Ravens have routinely treated scheming as a way to multiply strengths. and a back who already understands route concepts may adapt faster than a pure runner.
Still, there’s a reason this selection is being framed through the Bisciotti-DeCosta dynamic.. When an owner pushes for a player. it can influence how hard the organization leans into a prospect’s upside—particularly when the front office could justify many other options in the middle rounds.. For the Ravens. picking a player with Randall’s injury history also signals a willingness to invest in long-term potential rather than only immediate availability.
Misryoum’s takeaway is that Randall’s rookie year will likely come down to two things: staying healthy through the grind of camp and proving he can handle the Ravens’ specific demands at running back.. If he does. he has a clearer path to meaningful snaps than many fifth-round runners because his skill set gives coaches multiple ways to deploy him.. If he doesn’t. the Ravens still have a proven base in Henry and an evolving depth chart behind him—but the pressure to justify the pick will grow quickly.
For now. this draft choice reads like a blend of football logic and ownership momentum: the Ravens get a converted weapon with pass-catching traits. while Bisciotti gets the satisfaction of a tangible imprint on the roster.. Randall’s challenge is to convert that opportunity into impact—without letting the past injuries define what his NFL future can become.