The Giants (and other teams) are hoping to sign Colts running back Jonathan Taylor via trade. While Baltimore’s season could fall apart following Sunday’s injuries to starting quarterback Lamar Jackson (thumb) and backup Tyler Huntley (toe), there could be another running back who could be pursued at the latest by the Nov. 10 deadline, by the Giants or other teams.
Derrick Henry, now 32, is much closer to the end of his career than the beginning. His contract pays $12 million in 2027, with no guarantees.
Perhaps now is the time for the Ravens to turn the remainder of his contract into a draft pick or two.
And the Giants would make perfect sense. Beyond the fact that the Giants view Taylor as part of the second tier of current NFL backs along with Henry, Giants coach John Harbaugh has experience with Henry.
After a loss to the Saints in Week 5, Harbaugh explained the distribution of carries across a wide range of defenders by pointing out that they don’t have a clearly defined workhorse.
“I would love for us to be in those kinds of circumstances,” Harbaugh said at the time. “A Derrick Henry Circumstance or a Saquon Barkley circumstance or whatever.
The best way to be in a “Derrick Henry circumstance” would be, you know, to have Derrick Henry.
Whether the Ravens can trade Henry depends on whether they plan to keep him beyond this season. If they had cut him before a $1 million bonus expired in March, they wouldn’t have gotten a compensatory draft pick. The only way to get value for his contract would be to trade it.
Through eight games, Henry leads the league with 158 carries. He has 632 yards (4.0 per carry) and eight touchdowns.
Given the quarterback injuries in Baltimore, the Ravens will surely get a call or two about Henry. The Giants, given their interest in Taylor, could be one of them.
Gn sports
