The Baltimore Ravens have signed one of the best running backs on the planet, agreeing to a two-year deal with two-time NFL rushing leader Derrick Henry.
The Ravens and Henry have agreed to a two-year, $16 million deal that has $9 million in guarantees and a $20 million maximum value, according to a report by Adam Schefter of ESPN.
Henry immediately becomes the heavyweight in an AFC North loaded with running backs, including Cleveland’s Nick Chubb and Pittsburgh’s two-headed monster of Jaylen Warren and Najee Harris.
Henry, 30, is a four-time Pro Bowler, two-time All-Pro, and led the NFL in carries four times and rushing yards and touchdowns in 2019 and 2020. In 2020, he was the NFL Offensive Player of the Year while spearheading the Tennessee Titans’ rushing attack.
Tennessee’s second-round pick in the 2016 NFL Draft, Henry has spent his entire career with the Titans. Over eight seasons, he’s run for 9,502 yards at a 4.7 yards per carry average and scored 90 touchdowns.
His best season came back in 2020, when he scored 17 touchdowns and ran for 2,027 yards. His pace has slowed somewhat, rushing for 1,167 yards and 12 scores in 2023. His 4.2 yards per carry average last season tied for his career low.
Baltimore has dealt with a ton of injuries and jumbled personnel at running back over the last few season. Last season, J.K. Dobbins played just one game before being injured, leaving Gus Edwards, Justice Hill and Keaton Mitchell to carry the load. In 2022, Dobbins played only eight games and Edwards four. In 2021, all three of Dobbins, Edwards and Hill were lost to season-ending injuries.
Henry has been extremely healthy in his career, missing just nine games due to injury over eight seasons. He has rushed for at least 900 yards in each of the last six seasons, missing a thousand yards by only 63 in 2021 — when he played only eight games.
The last Ravens running back to rush for over 1,000 yards was Mark Ingram back in 2019.