Ravens Insider: Instant analysis from the Ravens reportedly signing Derrick Henry

[ExtremeRavens]

Here’s what The Baltimore Sun sports staff had to say immediately after the Ravens and running back Derrick Henry reportedly agreed to a two-year deal on Tuesday afternoon:

Childs Walker, reporter: At age 30, Derrick Henry is not the wrecking ball he was in 2019 and 2020, when he averaged more than 5 yards per carry on league-high usage. Baltimore fans will never forget the stiff arm on Earl Thomas that captured just how mighty that version of King Henry was. But Henry was far from a spent force in 2023, averaging 4.2 yards per carry, an impressive 3.32 yards after contact and scoring 12 touchdowns for a bad Tennessee offense. He won’t have to carry as heavy a load for the Ravens, and a lesser workload might help him extend his effective years. Not to mention Lamar Jackson is every running back’s best friend with the attention he draws. Henry won’t transform the Ravens’ offense, but he will deliver everything Gus Edwards did with more durability and big-play potential. That’s a fine return for a reported two-year, $16 million deal in the middle of a surprisingly hot shopping spree for running backs.

Mike Preston, columnist: At age 30, Henry still has a lot left as far as controlling the pace of a game. He is still physically imposing and can wear down a defense. He is the premier closer in the fourth quarter. The Ravens need to upgrade their offensive line from a year ago, especially the veteran and often hurt tackles. But they have a good inside runner in Henry and an outside threat in Jackson. It’s a good signing for the Ravens, who were in need of a downhill runner.

C.J. Doon, editor: It long felt like Henry was headed to Baltimore, especially when he was last top-tier running back remaining in free agency after Monday’s frenzy at the position. But now that he’s actually joining the Ravens, it’s pretty surreal. For as well as Gus Edwards and J.K. Dobbins have played at times over the past few seasons, the Ravens haven’t had a bulldozer like Henry, who will scare defenses just as much as Lamar Jackson in the running game. Sure, he’s 30 years old, but he’s shown no signs of slowing down anytime soon. No back has more rushing yards than Henry since 2018, and nobody has more rushing yards after contact over the past five seasons. He is a true difference-maker for an offense that already thrives running the ball. The Ravens still need to figure out their best starting five on the offensive line, but they have a solid foundation with Jackson and offensive coordinator Todd Monken. There’s a lot of offseason left and more holes to fill, but this could be the move that puts the Ravens over the top in the AFC, so long as Henry stays healthy and productive.

Tim Schwartz, editor: Let’s start with this: the Ravens are probably not getting the Derrick Henry of his prime. He’s 30 years old and likely won’t be stiff-arming defenders on his way to 90-yard touchdowns anymore. But the bruising running back will still undoubtedly be effective in Baltimore. He is a menacing figure in the backfield, and pairing him with Lamar Jackson is almost unfair for opposing defenses. With how important the running game is for Baltimore, it needed to get someone after Gus Edwards left in free agency. For the reported $16 million for two years, that’s also a pretty good deal for Baltimore after Monday’s running back feeding frenzy. The Ravens are still in win-now mode — despite general manager Eric DeCosta’s claim that windows never really close — so the move makes a lot of sense from that perspective. Henry in Baltimore has always seemed like a good fit, and now we’ll see just how much he has left in his tank.

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