The Baltimore Ravens have found a way to reach the AFC Championship Game with key injuries at important positions on offense in 2023.
While tight end Mark Andrews — has struggled to stay healthy as one of Lamar Jackson’s top targets — the running back position has been a different story.
Early in the year, the Ravens lost their dynamic star JK Dobbins for the season with a torn Achilles. Dobbins is a free agent this offseason — and due to his injury history — his future with the franchise is uncertain to say the least. Baltimore found a gem in rookie speedster Keaton Mitchell, who signed with the team as an undrafted free agent out of East Carolina and gave the Ravens offense a major boost until they lost him to a season-ending injury.
The Baltimore Ravens have turned to Gus Edwards and Justice Hill to fill the voids at the running back position, and while it’s worked well for them this season, they will have to make a plan for the future whenever this season comes to an end.,
Just like Dobbins, Edwards is set to be a free agent when the offseason hits and it’s possible the Ravens part ways with both of those backs and seek an upgrade at the position.
NFL analyst and former Jacksonville Jaguars RB Maurice Jones-Drew believes there’s a perfect fit to pair with Lamar Jackson in the backfield for 2024.
Baltimore Ravens Could Sign Free-Agent Derrick Henry This Offseason According To NFL Analyst
Jones-Drew thinks Tennessee Titans free agent Derrick Henry is the perfect fit for the Ravens to upgrade their backfield for 2024.
While the former Heisman Tropy winner out of Alabama is almost 30-years-old, he hasn’t shown signs of rust as an elite ball-carrier in the NFL.
Jones-Drew writes, “With Baltimore operating a downhill run game at the center of its offense, the veteran back would fit perfectly as a physical north-south rusher who’s still capable of breaking a big gain even at 30 years old.”
In 2020, Henry became the eighth running back in NFL history to surpass 2,000 rushing yards. This also made him the only player to have 2,000 yard rushing seasons in high school, college, and the NFL.
Derrick Henry also earned NFL Offensive Player of the Year in 2020, a rare feat for a running back in the modern NFL.
Henry has surpassed the 1,000 yard rushing mark with at least 10 touchdowns in 5 of his last 6 seasons. He was on pace for another monster year in 2021 with 937 yards and 10 scores before he suffered a season-ending injury in Week 8 vs. the Colts.
Jones-Drew believes the 6-foot-3, 250-pound bruiser would be the perfect fit in the Baltimore Ravens offense, and would likely be the ideal choice to join Mitchell as the bruiser, as the injured rookie is known for his speed and shifty style.
“With five 1,000-yard rushing campaigns in his last six seasons, Henry’s presence would elevate the unit and make it even more of a pick-your-poison attack than it already has been in 2023 with [Lamar] Jackson’s improvement as a passer,” Jones-Drew writes.
Henry would also benefit from less stacked boxes as defenses would need to focus on the passing weapons as well as Jackson’s ability to run.
Derrick Henry Has Been Previously Linked To Baltimore Ravens
In late October as the Tennessee Titans began to make moves toward a rebuild after trading safety Kevin Byard — a longtime staple on their defense to the Eagles — many believed Henry was also going to get moved midseason.
The Ravens were reportedly close to landing the bruising Titans’ RB.
Cole Jackson of The Russell Street Report reported on Monday, October 30, “Per sources, the #Ravens and Titans had a deal in place for Derrick Henry. That deal was vetoed by the Titans owner.”
While no other reporters corroborated the post, Baltimore Ravens CB Marlon Humphrey appeared to confirm the news in the November 8 episode of his podcast, “Punch Line Podcast with Marlon Humphrey.”
Humphrey said, “I was about 85% sure King Henry would be suiting up for the Ravens.”
Henry himself confirmed there were two teams “really close” to trading for him in 2023 on the most recent episode of “Bussin’ With The Boys” podcast with co-hosts Will Compton and Taylor Lewan.
While he didn’t say which teams they were, Compton guessed the Ravens and Henry didn’t shut it down.
Spotrac’s market value tool only projects Henry to have a value of 1-year $4.3 million, which may be affordable for Baltimore, an organization with several key decisions looming following this year.
It certainly seems like Derrick Henry could end up with the Baltimore Ravens for the 2024 season.
