Baltimore Ravens make top rushing pair by adding Derrick Henry

The Baltimore Ravens have signed running back Derrick Henry on a two-year, $16 million contract that includes a guaranteed $9 million in the first year, according to ESPN. The deal has the potential to reach $20 million if all incentives are met.

The Ravens posted 2,661 rushing yards last season, the highest total among all 32 teams. Their quarterback (QB) Lamar Jackson rushed for 821 yards in total in 16 games, the most in his position. He was also the leader on this front among all QBs in the past six seasons since he joined the National Football League in 2018 with 5,258 yards.

Henry, who finished his eighth season in the league in 2023 with the Tennessee Titans, is a two-time rushing yards and rushing touchdowns leader who tallied over 1,000 rushing yards every year in five of the past six seasons, including a remarkable 2,027 yards in 2020 when he was named the NFL Offensive Player of the Year and was selected for the First-team All-Pro.

Now Jackson and Henry have teamed up in Baltimore, which needed him badly because two of their running backs, J.K. Dobbins and Gus Edwards, both became free agents this offseason. Edwards joined the Los Angeles Chargers on a two-year, $7 million contract.

The Ravens finished the 2023 regular season with a league-best 13-4 record and advanced to the playoffs as the American Football Conference (AFC) North champions. Jackson, who won his second NFL Most Valuable Player (MVP) Award, had the best passing performance of his career as he threw 307-of-457 to generate 3,678 yards and 24 touchdowns with seven interceptions.

The Ravens beat the Houston Texans 34-10 in the AFC Divisional game, but lost to the Kansas City Chiefs 17-10 in the AFC Championship Game. The team hasn't appeared in Super Bowl since they won it the last time in the 2012 campaign.