Giants linked with Derrick Henry after Lamar Jackson injury threatens to sink Ravens' season

The Baltimore Ravens are seemingly desperate for help at the quarterback position after starter Lamar Jackson suffered what could become a season-ending thumb injury, and backup Tyler Huntley went down with a toe problem in the club's 36-10 loss to the Buffalo Bills that dropped the Ravens to 4-4 on Sunday. 

Meanwhile, a Monday report revealed that the 4-2-1 New York Giants have been "aggressive in looking for running backs on the trade market the last couple weeks." Some have assumed the Giants could make a big splash by landing Indianapolis Colts star running back Jonathan Taylor before the NFL trade deadline arrives on Nov. 10. 

However, Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio thinks that first-year Giants head coach John Harbaugh could reach out to his former employer about a possible trade for Ravens running back Derrick Henry.

Why now could be the time for Ravens to sell Derrick Henry

"Whether the Ravens would trade Henry depends on whether they plan to keep him beyond this season," Florio shared on Monday afternoon. "If they’d cut him before a $1M roster bonus comes due in March, they wouldn’t get a compensatory draft pick. The only way to get value for his contract would be to trade it."

Florio added that "now could be the time for the Ravens to turn the remainder of [Henry's] contract into a draft pick or two." Henry turns 33 years old in January, so he is likely closer to retirement than to his physical prime. 

Meanwhile, the Ravens could embrace somewhat of a franchise reset by parting ways with Jackson this coming winter. Such a reset could involve Baltimore trading Henry as soon as this week. Florio mentioned that none of the $12M attached to Henry's contract for 2027 is guaranteed.

Would Giants give anything up for Derrick Henry?

Two weeks ago, it seemed as if the previously mentioned Harbaugh was ready to replace Cam Skattebo as the Giants' primary ball-carrier. While Harbaugh coached Henry during the 2024 and 2025 seasons, Skattebo is coming off a performance that included rushing for a team-high 124 yards and a touchdown on 17 carries in the Giants' 27-21 overtime win at the Houston Texans on Oct. 25. 

Thus, it's possible that Harbaugh could keep Skattebo as his RB1 at least through the Giants' matchup at the struggling Philadelphia Eagles (2-6) on Nov. 8. Perhaps how Skattebo performs at Philadelphia's Lincoln Financial Field will determine whether or not the Giants trade for a big-name running back at some point over the next eight days.