CONFIRMED: The Ravens have agreed to a $20 million contract with the four-time Pro Bowler.
In 2024, the NFL offseason presents an opportunity for the Baltimore Ravens to make a significant impact through free agency.
They are likely to chase one of the top players in this year’s free agent class because they currently have an opening at starting running back.
That might get them a running back who has qualified for the Pro Bowl four out of the previous five seasons.
The Ravens are the team that might offer Derrick Henry a two-year, $20 million contract, according to Bleacher Report’s Kristopher Knox, who made the prediction in an article about the salaries of the top running backs in this year’s free agent class.
Henry, who recently signed a $12.5 million-a-year contract with the Titans, would see a little pay drop.
Henry would offer the Ravens the star running back they’ve been waiting for and the opportunity to contend for a championship before he’s past his prime.
An Uncommon Running Back
Henry has been an extremely unique running back in an era where an increasing number of NFL teams are using committees in the position.
For the past five seasons, Henry has not only been his team’s leading back but also the cornerstone upon which his offense has been constructed.
In that span, he has averaged more than 100 yards per game in three of those seasons and led the league in carries four times.
In 2020, he was voted the league’s Offensive Player of the Year.
Henry retreated a little amount in 2023. Despite leading the league in ball carrying, he only did so 280 times.
Additionally, he recorded the lowest yards per rush since 2017.
In addition, he was a member of a squad whose offense struggled and whose offensive line was poor.
Henry might be able to return to his previous level of productivity with a trade to a contender, and Baltimore would be a fantastic fit for him to do so.
Baltimore’s Henry’s Fit
Henry has appeared to be a nice match for the Ravens since the beginning of the summer.
Due to Keaton Mitchell’s recovery from an ACL tear and the team’s free agency predicament, there is currently uncertainty at the position.
Fixing it would be signing Henry.
For some time now, the squad has been without a real bell-cow back.
When the Ravens selected J.K. Dobbins in the draft, they thought he would be that player, but his injury problems prevented him from playing at that level, and he is now a free agent.
Over the past few years, Gus Edwards has done a good job of filling in for Dobbins while he was sidelined. However, the team did not appear to think highly enough of him when they did not give him the ball in the AFC Championship Game.
He is currently unrestricted.
If the Ravens bring Henry back, he may be the bell-cow they’ve been lacking and he would work well with Mitchell or possibly Dobbins.
At the beginning of the offseason, money was the only thing genuinely separating the Ravens and Henry.
With the recent significant increase to the pay cap, that shouldn’t be as much of a barrier.
Since selecting Lamar Jackson, the Ravens have been among the run-heavy teams in the NFL.
They ought to acquire a running back that complements that strategy this offseason.
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