Knee-Jerk Reactions: Derrick Henry Joins Ravens

Free agent running back Derrick Henry is reportedly set to sign with the Baltimore Ravens, as reported by Adam Schefter.

Free-agent Derrick Henry is signing a two-year, $16 million deal worth up to $20 million, including $9 million fully guaranteed in the first year with the Baltimore Ravens, sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/jYiY9118kR

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 12, 2024

RSR staff react to the news here.

Darin McCann

I’m not a huge fan of paying running backs, so forgive me if I’m not jumping up and down and waving purple sparklers in the air. That being said, the Ravens’ running back room is better now than it was last year, and that’s what you hope for every unit going forward.

The dynamic of Derrick Henry and Lamar Jackson playing the option game is no-doubt interesting. The inside-outside combination should leave some linebackers on their heels as the ball is snapped, and it would make sense that the receivers will find some more space behind that first level as safeties and linebackers are both going to have to at least take a look in the backfield every snap.

There needs to be a few additions on the line to maximize this signing, and I honestly can not wait until the pads come on in training camp to see the King against Ro. The Ravens added a bully today — which is probably something they need more of to advance further in the playoffs.

Good addition, even if I would have chosen to allocate resources a bit differently.

Chad Racine

This is going to be the biggest splash in free agency by the Ravens and it should more than satisfy the fans. This is about the most money I would have spent on Henry considering the devaluing of the position and Henry’s age. However, I do believe he still has plenty in the tank but it’s often said that running backs don’t go downhill they fall off a cliff. I expect he will make a huge difference in the offense this year but hopefully he won’t be overworked and kept fresh for later in the season. Late in the season having a healthy Keaton Mitchell and Derrick Henry should make for a pretty potent combination with Lamar Jackson and company.

Rob Shields

I think this acquisition is being overblown. If you read Ravens twitter, you would think the Ravens just acquired Derrick Henry from three years ago.

He is still a good player. He can still give you some big games but look at his game logs from last year. He had eight games under 65 yards after just eight such games form 2020-2022.

Now, maybe the line not being great mattered. QB issues mattered but what about simply, that he is older and just has wear and tear?

I would have signed Henry at a certain level. This exceeded that level.

Now, the second part to this is, what other options did you have?  This is a weak RB draft (not that there aren’t talented guys available though) and FA RBs were going fast and getting even dumber deals.

The Ravens have a guy coming off a major injury and Justice Hill. Bringing back JK was an option but that’s dangerous to rely on him, Mitchell and a rookie.

So, I get it. I get why they did it and it wasn’t for some crazy unreasonable number. However, the team has larger needs and you acquired a player who could fall off a cliff at any point.  I don’t hate it but I don’t love it either and I think the fan base is going completely overboard with it.

You win in today’s NFL by throwing it and stopping the pass. You don’t win by ground and pound anymore..not in the playoffs…not against the Chiefs.

Kevin McNelis

Conventional wisdom tells us all kinds of things about RBs. Don’t pay them after about age 28. Don’t pay them a high number in free agency. The more frequent the contact, the faster the wear.

Throw conventional wisdom out the window with Derrick Henry.

On paper, I didn’t love the idea of the move at first, but this feels like a shift in earnest to trying to keep Lamar from having to be the whole offense. The Ravens ran their offense so efficiently last season that they were third in passer rating, while leading the NFL in rushing yards.

Now imagine they replicate that, even with some shifting pieces on the O-line, and add Henry. Five of his last six seasons over 1,000 yards. Over ten rushing TDs each of those seasons. Give him more of a situational role being relieved by Keaton Mitchell in between, with the option for Lamar to tuck and run too?

I legitimately don’t know how you plan against it from a defensive standpoint. One thing I know is this: Henry better be getting carries in the playoffs.

Derek Arnold

I don’t love this allocation of resources, as some above have mentioned. However, the idea of a Lamar-Henry-Mitchell lightning-thunder-lightning is admittedly a ton of fun to dream about.

Let’s see how the rest of the offseason plays out, as always. I trust that, while we consider this an overpay for the position, Eric DeCosta will still find a way to put together an extremely balanced and competitive roster. He’s earned the benefit of the doubt.

(As for the coach who will forget to use Henry in January…ah well, I’ll shut up about that.)

Brennan Stewart

I must admit that I was a big advocate for re-signing Gus Edwards to a deal similar to what he agreed to with the Chargers, but there is no doubt that Derrick Henry is certainly an upgrade from what Baltimore had before. Signing Edwards, who just finished with a career-high 810 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns, to say a $7 million two-year contract would have left Baltimore with much more flexibility moving forward in free agency, as $16 million with $9 million guaranteed is a much steeper expense for a 30-year-old who might be on the edge of decline.

Simply put, this could be considered one of the greatest gambles of Eric DeCosta’s career, but at least the safety net is having Keaton Mitchell learn from one of the most established running backs currently in the league.

While the talent and potential for success is of course greater with Henry, Baltimore demonstrated that it’s not about who you have, it’s about how you use them, in its latest loss to Kansas City in the AFC Championship. Fingers crossed Henry is given more than three rush attempts if the Ravens are in the same situation next season.

The post Knee-Jerk Reactions: Derrick Henry Joins Ravens appeared first on Russell Street Report.