The Ravens’ season has gone from promising to precarious in a hurry, and that’s why Derrick Henry’s name has started to surface in trade chatter.
Baltimore was 4-1 and sitting near the top of the AFC not long ago. Then came four straight losses, a slide that has left the Ravens last in the AFC North at 4-5. On top of that, there’s real uncertainty about whether Lamar Jackson will return this season after thumb surgery.
The quarterback help is arriving in the form of veteran Jacoby Brissett, who is coming over from the Cardinals in a trade. But even with Brissett stepping in, the Ravens may need something close to a miracle to get their season back on track.
That’s the backdrop for the question hanging over Tuesday’s trade deadline: could Baltimore actually consider moving future Hall of Fame running back Derrick Henry?
ESPN’s Dan Graziano said before the Ravens’ loss to the Jaguars that Henry is a name to “keep half an eye on,” and pointed to the factors that could make him part of the conversation.
“Henry is turning 33 in January. He is scheduled to earn $12 million next year, and none of that money is guaranteed,” Graziano said. “If he isn’t in Baltimore’s plans beyond this year, the Ravens could find themselves fielding offers over the next week.”
There’s a difference between listening and actively shopping a player, and the source of these rumors matters. So far, there have been no reports saying the Ravens are trying to move Henry. With Brissett now in the building and a friendlier stretch of schedule ahead, Baltimore still appears to be thinking about a push this season.
Still, the logic behind a possible deal is easy to see. Henry’s age, his contract, and the challenge of trying to win without Jackson all make the situation worth watching. And with several teams around the league looking for running back help, there could be a market.
That matters because some of the same contenders pursuing Indianapolis’ Jonathan Taylor may end up empty-handed. The Giants, Broncos, Bengals, Vikings and Packers have all been reported as suitors for Taylor, and only one team can land him. The others could turn their attention to Henry instead.
For now, the Ravens have not signaled that they’re ready to move on from him. But if Baltimore decides it wants something in return, the timing may never be better than right now.
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