After playing in the Tennessee Titans’ final game of the 2023 season, running back Derrick Henry has sounded like someone who doesn’t expect to be back.
Knowing that, it’s time to start preparing ourselves for the reality that Henry will most likely be wearing a different uniform in 2024 once he hits the open market for the first time in his career.
If you ask former running back and NFL Network analyst Maurice Jones-Drew, the best fit for Henry comes with the Baltimore Ravens.
Here’s MJD’s take on Henry in Baltimore.
J.K. Dobbins (on injured reserve with a torn Achilles) and Gus Edwards (the 2023 team leader in carries and rush TDs) are set to hit free agency this offseason, while Keaton Mitchell (on IR with a torn ACL) and Justice Hill remain under contract in 2024. But as I wrote back in November, I would love to see “King Henry” lining up in the backfield with Lamar Jackson in Baltimore. With Baltimore operating a downhill run game at the center of its offense, the veteran back would fit perfectly as a physical north-south rusher who’s still capable of breaking a big gain even at 30 years old. With five 1,000-yard rushing campaigns in his last six seasons, Henry’s presence would elevate the unit and make it even more of a pick-your-poison attack than it already has been in 2023 with Jackson’s improvement as a passer. This fit makes too much sense.
Henry has made it quite clear that winning a Super Bowl is paramount at this stage of his career, so the Ravens are a great fit for that reason, along with their offensive approach MJD talked about in his write-up.
Adding to that, Ravens starter Gus Edwards is set to be a free agent in 2024 and Henry would provide a massive upgrade.
Assuming he can recover from his torn ACL, a backfield duo of Henry and Keaton Mitchell teaming up with Lamar Jackson would be a nightmare for opposing defenses to deal with.
Seeing Henry in a Ravens uniform would be nauseating, though.
