• No signs of slowing down: Derrick Henry has 2,186 NFL carries to his name and will be 30 years old when the 2024 NFL season begins, but he still earned an 86.8 rushing grade in 2023, sixth-best among qualifying running backs.
• A nightmare for defenses: The signing pairs quarterback Lamar Jackson with an elite rushing talent and gives the Ravens one of the most intimidating backfields in recent memory.
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Former Tennessee Titans running back Derrick Henry is joining the Baltimore Ravens on a two-year, $16 million deal, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported on Tuesday.
The deal is worth up to $20 million and includes $9 million guaranteed.
The signing pairs quarterback Lamar Jackson with an elite rushing talent and gives the Ravens one of the most intimidating backfields in recent memory.
Henry has 2,186 NFL carries to his name and will be 30 years old when the 2024 NFL season begins, but he still earned an 86.8 rushing grade in 2023, sixth-best among qualifying running backs.
His 3.32 yards after contact per carry and 57 forced missed tackles ranked ninth and fourth, respectively, among the same group of running backs.
Derrick Henry: PFF rushing grades and rank since 2016
| Season | PFF rushing grade | Rank |
| 2023 | 86.8 | 6th of 59 |
| 2022 | 86.7 | 7th of 62 |
| 2021 | 74.9 | 26th of 61 |
| 2020 | 91.7 | 1st of 61 |
| 2019 | 79.9 | 7th of 50 |
| 2018 | 86.2 | 3rd of 59 |
| 2017 | 76.1 | 11th of 64 |
| 2016 | 62.9 | 40th of 63 |
Henry will join forces with Jackson, whose 46 missed tackles forced ranked first at the quarterback position in 2023. The Ravens signal-caller earned his second NFL MVP Award last season and has been the most dynamic player in the NFL since entering the league in 2018.
Henry is an excellent fit for Baltimore, as he will be afforded much more room when he touches the ball.
Last season, the Titans averaged just 1.0 yards before contact per rush attempt, tied for the sixth-worst mark in the league. The Ravens, on the other hand, averaged 1.6 yards before contact per attempt, tied for the league's fourth-highest mark.
That might not seem like a lot, but an extra half-yard of momentum for a 6-foot-3, 247-pound running back will make a big difference.
There’s also the added stress this puts on opposing linebackers and safeties in the box. Lamar Jackson has already made life incredibly difficult for those players, as they have to diagnose and then react to whether he is keeping the ball as a runner, handing it to a back or throwing the ball.
The addition of Henry just adds another level to that.
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