The Ravens and Derrick Henry relationship is finally happening, after months of rumors. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the two-time running champion has committed to play for Baltimore.
Henry will receive a two-year, $16MM contract from the Ravens, according to Schefter, who also notes that the veteran Titans starter may make up to $20MM with the AFC North team. With the Ravens promising Henry $9MM, this arrangement appears more like a pay-as-you-go agreement. However, the 30-year-old back will have an intriguing opportunity to join the squad that finished as the top seed in the AFC last season.
Henry has been one of the best running backs of this age and is a strong candidate for the Hall of Fame. He just finished his fifth season with 1,000 yards. Although the Ravens should be concerned about miles, the former Heisman champion has already dismissed worries about workload. The Ravens will spend more to see how Henry fits next to Lamar Jackson after losing Gus Edwards to the Chargers.
Although Henry was closely linked to the Ravens at the previous deadline, they chose to maintain their internal structure. The squad lost Keaton Mitchell to a late-season ACL tear three months after J.K. Dobbins was declared out for the season in Week 1. Mitchell is receiving medical attention, but Dobbins has not signed. At last, Henry will be taken into consideration by the Ravens.
The Alabama graduate was selected for his fourth career Pro Bowl in 2023, despite a noticeable decrease in his workload. Henry split time last season between third-round rookie Tyjae Spears and averaged 16.5 carries per game. He hasn’t logged fewer than 20 totes per contest since 2018. This could indicate that he won’t be able to handle the same workload going forward as he did in his prime. In the event that the Ravens don’t make any more RB changes, Henry will still be in a position to play on many early downs and goal-line scenarios.
Baltimore, the best rushing club in the league the previous season, made it obvious at the Combine that general manager Eric DeCosta would give top attention to adding backfield players. There were new agreements pending for Dobbins and/or Edwards, but those will not apply to the former. With today’s move, the latter’s chances of staying in Baltimore for 2024 have also diminished. Dalvin Cook, a midseason acquisition, is a pending free agent who may be persuaded to explore his options after seeing limited action during his brief stay with the Ravens.
Prior to this predictable Henry agreement, the Ravens were associated with other backs, including a reported significant interest in Saquon Barkley. But in the end, the Eagles accepted a more lucrative, longer contract than this Henry one, and the Ravens, who were just barely above the cap on Tuesday, undoubtedly had financial concerns. Nevertheless, Baltimore had more affordable options, so the team’s expenditure represents a noteworthy dedication to the top of their backfield depth chart.
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