Asked earlier this offseason about the possibility of extending Derrick Henry, Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta said a picture of the six-time Pro Bowl running back was going up on the wall in his office, making his intentions clear.
Henry and that picture will now stay put beyond 2025 with the sides agreeing to a two-year, $30 million extension that includes $25 million fully guaranteed. Henry was entering the final season of the two-year, $16 million deal that proved to be a bargain as the 31-year-old led the AFC with 1,921 rushing yards and 18 total touchdowns and all NFL running backs in yards per carry (5.9) in his first season with Baltimore.
The deal guarantees Henry $18 million in new money through 2026 since he was already set to make $7 million this season. It also gives the Ravens what amounts to a $12 million option for the 2027 season, according to Sports Illustrated. The deal is the largest in NFL history for a running back over the age of 30, per ESPN.
“He does everything the right way, the way that he practices, the way that he takes care of his body, his mentality on the field, his leadership, his talent,” DeCosta said in late February. “He’s freakishly talented — his combination of size and speed. He was just a perfect player for us last year. The right addition, and he brought a lot to the table on the field and also off the field with intangible qualities. We’re blessed to have him, and I would expect his successes last year to continue this year.”
Henry teaming with sensational dual-threat quarterback Lamar Jackson proved to be as deadly as many dreamed with the Ravens leading the NFL in rushing and total yards and becoming the first team in NFL history to run for 3,000 yards and pass for 4,000. It was Henry’s highest rushing total since he ran for a career-high 2,047 with Tennessee in 2020.
While many noted how Henry would be the best running back with which Jackson had played, the veteran benefitted greatly from playing with the two-time NFL MVP quarterback as he averaged a career-high 3.1 yards before contact per attempt, which reflected the conflict Jackson creates in opposing defenses. But Jackson certainly benefitted by turning in arguably the best season of his brilliant career, which included an NFL-best 6.6 yards per carry and several career highs in passing.
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“You can put anybody by Lamar, and they’re going to have a hell of a year,” Henry said in January. “That’s just the type of player he is. My success shouldn’t knock his or vice versa. Lamar is the main reason why I came here — to play with a Hall of Fame quarterback, MVP-caliber quarterback.”
Prior to news of the extension, Henry ranked just 13th among NFL running backs in average annual value, meaning he was more than deserving of a bump in pay even at his advanced age.
