Ravens To Field Offers For RB Derrick Henry?

Star quarterback Lamar Jackson is out for the foreseeable future. Backup Tyler Huntley is confirmed out for the year. QB3 Joe Fagnano impressed as an undrafted rookie in the preseason — completing 75 percent of his passes for 509 yards, three touchdowns, and one interception in three games — but only had three days to prepare for his first NFL start tomorrow after subbing in on Sunday. If Fagnano does not retain the starting job past Thursday night, a trade in progress will equip Baltimore’s offense with a passer who has lost 30 of his last 35 starts.

Nothing about that picture indicates the Ravens are about to turn this losing streak around, so perhaps Graziano is onto something. If the Ravens chalk this season up as a lost one, examining where things stand with Henry may be beneficial in the long run. As ageless as the 32-year-old rusher has proven to be in his 11-year career, the laws of time and physics insist that Henry must slow down at some point in the future. With holes to fill on a thin, injured roster moving forward, the Ravens could opt to ship Henry off to a contender, for his sake and theirs.

Graziano’s argument is based partly on the attractiveness of Henry’s current contract situation. Henry has been more than willing to bet on himself, signing a team-friendly extension last year that netted him $14MM in bonuses alone as he works on a base salary of $1.26MM. He’s scheduled to earn another $12MM next year, but again, none of that money is guaranteed. The unique deal structure makes Henry exceptionally easy to take on, should any team seek to acquire him.

A number of teams have a need at the running back position. Teams with losing records, like the Dolphins and Commanders, likely aren’t attractive destinations for the veteran rusher, but a pair of NFC North foes in Minnesota and Green Bay have situations that Henry could fit perfectly into. The potential market for a game-changer like Henry is hard to gauge at this point, especially knowing a younger bell cow rusher in Jonathan Taylor may be available. If a contender is desperate enough to add Henry’s skillset to their offense, though, the Ravens could become sellers at the deadline in an attempt to position the team for more success in 2027.