Derrick Henry is one the best running backs in the NFL today. Signing a player of that caliber is bound to shake things up within any organization, and former NFL players turned analysts Derrick Mason and Jason McCourty believe that Henry’s presence will restructure the Ravens’ offense and take the load off key players like Lamar Jackson.
Throughout his eight-year tenure with the Tennessee Titans, Henry was the standard for the running back position. Henry has put up a total of 9,502 rushing yards in his career, averaging 4.7 yards per carry and scoring 90 touchdowns. He also put together a 2,000-yard season in 2020. He fumbled just 17 times as a Titan.
Now heading into Year 9, Henry finds himself with a new squad. After reaching free agency, Henry agreed to a two-year, $16 million deal with the Ravens on March 12. Mason, a host on 102.5 The Game in Nashville, says this move was a no-brainer given the level of talent already on Baltimore’s roster.
“I mean, it makes a lot of sense to me, because it takes the pressure off of Lamar to be the end-all, be-all. … You need a guy in the backfield, a guy that’s been consistent, a guy that’s durable,” Mason said on Glenn Clark Radio March 12. “… What you’re getting in Derrick Henry is a guy that’s durable. He missed half of the season two years ago with a foot injury but came back and still was effective. He was on pace to get another 2,000-yard season.”
Now that Henry is part of the organization, the Ravens have an extremely accomplished runner in the backfield. This news should come as a great relief to Jackson. Some, like NFL Network’s McCourty, believe will help take some pressure off of the quarterback.
“Even with the running backs they’ve had, Lamar Jackson has really carried the load running the ball since he’s gotten there. And Derrick Henry is a proven commodity at an extremely elite level,” McCourty said on GCR March 13. “… There’s almost like a constant reminder every time you see him walking around the building, walk out to the practice field and he’s head and shoulders above so many other guys in the running back room or just on the team in general. You’re like, ‘You know what, I’ve got to find a way to get that guy to ball a few times, just to see if he can beat down on the defense a little bit.'”
Mason shared similar thoughts. He believes that Henry will alleviate the strain on Jackson and the offense as a whole.
“You still need someone in that backfield to take pressure off your quarterback,” Mason said. “You need someone in that backfield, that when you’re in your four-minute offense, he can beat up at least three minutes or close to four minutes of that of that time clock. You need a guy like that. And Derrick Henry is one of those types of guys.”
It seems, however, that some believe signing Henry is a risky move given one crucial factor: his age. The 30-year-old running back certainly does have some mileage on him, racking up more than 2,000 carries in his eight-year career.
Yet McCourty, who was teammates with Henry in Tennessee, doesn’t believe he’s going to slow down anytime soon. Even as he watched Henry’s final game and his heartfelt address to the Titans faithful afterward, McCourty knew there was more to come from Henry. McCourty believes Henry has his eyes not just on continuing his dominance in the NFL but for winning it all.
“This is a guy that wasn’t retiring. He wasn’t deciding to hang it up, he still wanting to play football,” McCourty said. “… So, I think of course that opportunity to play in the Super Bowl, but also going somewhere where you know you can perform and he wants Titans fans to watch him and celebrate him as the Baltimore Raven, but also the pissed at the organization that you just let me walk out the door and go put up this type of production for another organization.”
To Mason, age is just a number. Rather, it is production that really matters. Mason believes that while Henry may not be the best all-around running back in the game, he can sure still produce.
“I think Derrick Henry is still a damn good runner. You know he may not be the best complete running back,” Mason said. “But if you’re just talking complete runner, just pure running the football, Derrick Henry is still the best runner of the football in the National Football League.”
Signing a player like Henry gives the Ravens some more hope heading into the 2024 season, especially after their heartbreaking 17-10 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC championship game. While it remains to be seen how Henry will produce for the Ravens, this signing lays the groundwork for growth on the offensive side and hopefully even greater success for Jackson.
“No matter if they have an eight-man or nine-man box, [the quarterback] can still turn around and hand them the football and trust that he’s going to get you positive yards,” Mason said. “I think these past seasons have fueled him and it’s going to make him a better quarterback heading into the 2024-25 season.”
For more from Derrick Mason, listen to the full interview here:
For more from Jason McCourty, listen to the full interview here:
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