The Baltimore Ravens sit at 4-5 after a 33-10 home loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars on Thursday night, and that result has fueled talk that the team could shop running back Derrick Henry ahead of the Nov. 10 NFL trade deadline.
Only nine players in NFL history have rushed for more than 2,000 yards in a single season. Henry is the only one who came close to doing it twice.
Bleacher Report’s Gary Davenport labeled the Denver Broncos the “Top Trade Destination” for Henry. The Broncos are 6-2 and looking for a stronger ground game as they push toward the playoffs.
“It’s not especially hard to see why the Denver Broncos have been mentioned as a potential suitor for just about every running back on the market. The Broncos got a good performance from rookie Jonah Coleman in last week’s win over the Kansas City Chiefs,” Davenport wrote.
“But for the season the Broncos are averaging just 92.6 rushing yards per game — 26th in the NFL. J.K. Dobbins is averaging less than 3.5 yards per carry. RJ Harvey is on injured reserve. So far this season, the 6-2 Broncos have been able to mostly overcome their offensive deficiencies. But as the team moves deeper into the season and then the playoffs, those deficiencies could be Denver’s undoing … unless they are addressed.”
Those numbers line up with league data. Denver ranks near the bottom of the league in rushing production, and Dobbins has managed roughly 3.3 yards per carry through the first eight games.
Henry, 32, has carried the ball a league-high 175 times for 689 yards and eight touchdowns through nine games. He ranks seventh in the NFL in rushing yards and is averaging 3.9 yards per carry.
The Ravens have won four games this season. In each of those victories, Henry received at least 20 carries. Against the Jaguars, he had 17.
Baltimore’s offense has struggled without a healthy Lamar Jackson. The team lost Jackson and backup Tyler Huntley to injuries in recent weeks, leaving the running game with little support.
Reports have also connected the Broncos to Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor. The Colts are said to be seeking a package of four draft picks, similar to what the Carolina Panthers received for Christian McCaffrey in 2022. For Henry, a second-round pick and a fourth-round selection could be enough.
Henry’s contract makes a deal simpler. His base salary this year is about $1.25 million, with most of his money already paid in bonuses. Next year’s $12 million is not guaranteed.
After the Jaguars loss, Henry said he is focused on Baltimore.
“I have not mentioned me going anywhere else,” he told reporters. “I’m saying, ‘Let’s go back to work. Let’s try to get better and turn this thing around.’”
The Ravens have dropped four straight games and sit last in the AFC North. With the deadline days away, front-office decisions could shape the rest of the season.
Denver has won four of its last five and holds first place in the AFC West. Adding a proven back like Henry would give the Broncos a physical presence they have lacked between the tackles.
Other teams, including the New York Giants and New England Patriots, have also been linked to Henry. Both have coaching ties to him from his time with the Tennessee Titans.
Whether Baltimore chooses to sell or hold will depend on the offers that arrive before Tuesday. Henry remains the most established option on a thin running-back market.
For now, the Ravens must prepare for a Monday night home game against the Los Angeles Chargers while weighing what comes next for their lead back.
