Latest news with #DerrickHenry
USA Today
10 minutes ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Where did the Ravens land in a PFF ranking of all 32 running back groups?
Pro Football Focus says the Ravens have the NFL's best collection of RBs Canton, Ohio is calling. Typically, we all try to avoid the temptation of 'leaping without looking' or 'counting chickens before they hatch', but this is something different entirely. Long before Derrick Henry landed with the Baltimore Ravens, he looked like someone with a Pro Football Hall of Fame pedigree. You knew it. So did the rest of us. Fast forward to the present, and now, he has the resume to back the claim. He turned 31 years old in January, and instead of regressing, he has seemingly found his legs again. His most recent season, his first in a new city, was the second-best of his career. He almost cracked 2,000 yards rushing for the second time. It's nearly as if he's aging in reverse, but here's the best part. Baltimore's rushing attack can be even better than it was when we last saw them. Pro Football Focus says the Ravens have the NFL's best collection of RBs No team in the NFL posted more rushing yards than the 2024-25 Baltimore Ravens. They made it look easy, but it wasn't. This is, after all, professional football. Henry's 1,921 rushing yards finished second only to Saquon Barkley. His 16 rushing touchdowns led everyone, but as good as that news was for a Ravens team that invested in him, they may not hear anything all summer that tops this next theory. Pro Football Focus recently ranked every NFL team's collection of running backs. Baltimore claimed the top spot. In other words, Henry doesn't have to rely on Henry alone. There's a committee in the making here if Baltimore wants to explore the idea. Here's what PFF's Dalton Wasserman had to say about placing them atop his ranking while everyone is mulling that one over. "The Ravens reign supreme with the NFL's highest-graded running back from last season, Derrick Henry, and a talented unit behind him. Henry led the position with a 93.5 PFF rushing grade as well as 89 missed tackles forced and 6.0 yards per carry. At this point, his eventual decline isn't believable until we see it. Alongside Henry is one of the NFL's best third-down backs, Justice Hill. Hill's 89.0 PFF receiving grade in 2024 ranked fourth among running backs last season. He did not drop any of his 52 targets. Baltimore also has Keaton Mitchell, who earned an elite 92.5 PFF rushing grade in limited work in 2023, and Rasheen Ali, who added special-teams value late last season." Mitchell was recently mentioned as one of CBS Sports' breakout candidates for the coming season. Hill allows Baltimore's offense an opportunity for a 'thunder and lightning' pairing alongside Henry. The Ravens have a goldmine in Derrick, but that doesn't mean that they have to beat him up in the process. He has given the game nine NFL seasons. Yes, time has flown, but if the Baltimore Ravens want to maximize the return on the two-year, $16 million deal worth up to $20 million that they gave him on March 12, 2024 (and the two-year extension they handed him this past May), they may want to invest in ideas that end with keeping him fresh and healthy. Perhaps theories like PFFs serve as catalysts for convincing them to do so. The Ravens have the league's best committee sitting right under their noses. All they have to do is take a whiff.
Yahoo
18 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Ravens Derrick Henry Reveals Favorite Cheat Meal on 'Rich Eisen Show'
Ravens Derrick Henry Reveals Favorite Cheat Meal on 'Rich Eisen Show' originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Derrick Henry is preparing to enter season No. 10 in the NFL. Henry will head into year No. 2 with the Baltimore Ravens, as the 31-year-old running back appears as motivated as ever to play at a high level and help lead his team to a Super Bowl. Advertisement After spending the first eight seasons of his career with the Tennessee Titans, Henry took his talents to Baltimore. In his first season sharing a backfield with quarterback, Lamar Jackson, Henry remained a workhorse, carrying the ball more than 300 times for the fourth time in his career (325). Henry's 325 rushing attempts brought him 1,921 rushing yards and 16 rushing touchdowns. The yards trailed only Saquon Barkley (2,005) and the TDs were tied for the lead league with Jahmyr Gibbs and James Cook. As he gets further from his thirtieth birthday, Henry's offseason training regimen has become a hot topic of conversation. Reportedly, Henry spends approximately $240 thousand per year on body maintenance. While he appears to treat his body like a sacred temple, even "King Henry" enjoys the occasional cheat meal. Advertisement On Wednesday, during an appearance on the "Rich Eisen Show", Henry revealed his favorite cheat meal. "I'm a breakfast person, so I like steak, eggs, and potatoes. I like French toast or even a waffle," Henry said. Rich Eisen attempted to dig deeper, asking if Henry enjoys a sugary cereal or a slice of pizza as part of his cheat meal. "No cereal. I don't eat cereal. Pizza, every once and a while, but I'm not a big pizza person," Henry said. Baltimore Ravens running back Derrick Henry (22).Troy Taormina-Imagn Images Henry ranks No. 19 all-time in rushing yards and is the active rushing leader with 11,423 yards. He sits just 15 rushing yards behind Steven Jackson for No. 18 all-time. Advertisement He's also tied with Jim Brown for No. 6 all-time in rushing TDs (106). He sits just four TDs behind Walter Payton at No. 5. Henry's march toward history will begin during the Ravens Week 1 matchup on Sept. 7 against the Buffalo Bills. Related: Derrick Henry Comes Up One Yard Shy Of NFL History On Sunday Night Football This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 19, 2025, where it first appeared.
USA Today
a day ago
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Past and current Ravens greats land on quarter-century NFL all-star team
Past and current Ravens greats land on quarter-century NFL all-star team A dozen Ravens made the cut as ESPN releases its NFL all-quarter-century team. With men, particularly alpha males, it all comes back to thoughts about legacy at some point. We've repeatedly seen Baltimore Ravens stars of the past and present discuss their mortality (and immortality). Guys play and have played this great game that we love to support their families. They play for championships. Some have even played with hopes that their busts will be carved and placed in the hallowed halls of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Still, there's nothing like respect. There is nothing like knowing one's peers and competition see them as equals. ESPN released one of the more unique all-star teams that most fans and football pundits have seen as of late. This one is certainly worth a discussion. A dozen Ravens deservingly land on ESPN's NFL All Quarter Century team. The first 25 years of the millennium are in our rearview mirror. The worldwide leader in sports did us all a solid. Aaron Scahtz and Seth Walder crafted ESPN's NFL All Quarter Century team. A dozen Ravens made the list, 11 former and one current. Some enjoyed longer tenures than others, but even though there isn't really a Baltimore comp for 'Once a Raider, always a Raider', everyone on this list still gets love from the home crowd. Priest Holmes (1997-2000) Priest Holmes will, more than likely, be remembered as a Kansas City Chiefs star, but his NFL journey began in Charm City. An undrafted free agent in 1997, he is clearly one of the best pro football players of all time to earn that distinction. Derrick Henry (2024-present) The lone current Raven on this list, Derrick Henry almost became the first two-time member of the 2k club in his debut season with The Flock. More is coming as he is already a Hall of Famer with more good football left in him. Marshal Yanda (2007-19) How good was Marshal Yanda? Each of his 13 NFL seasons was spent with The Flock. When he was done playing, he had notched two First-team All-Pro nods, five Second-team All-Pro mentions, and eight trips to the Pro Bowl roster. He's a member of the NFL 2010s All-Decade Team. He's also a Super Bowl champion. Canton is calling his name one day. Kyle Juszczyk (2013-16) One of the greatest fullbacks of all time, Kyle Juszcyk traded Ravens purple for a trip out west to play in the NFL in 2017. Even though eight of his nine Pro Bowls were earned somewhere else, he spent four seasons with the good guys. Willie Anderson (2008) Willie Anderson only spent one year with the Ravens after spending his first dozen seasons with the Cincinnati Bengals. That's okay, though. He found his way onto the right side during his final NFL season. Here's some love for the big guy. Calais Campbell (2020-22) One of the great guys in the NFL. It feels like Calais Campbell has been playing football since the early '90s. He's seen six NFL locker rooms since entering the NFL in 2008 and spent three years with The Flock not too long ago. Ray Lewis (1996-2012) Truth be told, this one is pretty obvious. If Ray Lewis isn't on this roster, it must be thrown out almost immediately. He spent every season of his career with Baltimore. He won two Super Bowls, earning MVP honors in his first appearance. Ed Reed (2002-12) Ed's resume is like Ray's. It's too extensive to list here in its entirety, but as stated with Mr. Lewis, if Reed isn't on this all-star team, the list loses credibility almost immediately. Earl Thomas III (2019) Yet another of the one-hit wonders. Earl Thomas will join the Pro Football Hall of Fame as a Seattle Seahawks legend, but his lone season in Baltimore birthed good results: 49 tackles, two sacks, two interceptions, four pass breakups, and a forced fumble during the regular season. He then notched seven tackles and a sack during his lone playoff game. That's good enough to remember his time in Baltimore fondly. Justin Tucker (2012-24) Though it's unfortunate how things ended, Justin Tucker is indeed one of the great kickers in NFL history. He left Baltimore owning the NFL records for the longest goal (66 yards) and the highest career field goal percentage (89.1%) Devin Hester (2016) Devin Hester owns the NFL records for most career return touchdowns (20) and most career punt return touchdowns (14). He is tied for the most return touchdowns in a single season (6). If only Baltimore could have had him on the roster for a little longer than they did. Morgan Cox (2010-20) Morgan Cox didn't enjoy the thrill of playing one of football's sexier positions, but mull this one over. No one really thinks about the importance of a long snapper until their team has one who isn't effective. He deserves his spot on this list. He's one of the great Ravens of the past quarter century.
USA Today
3 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Why a RB-by-committee could work for the Ravens in 2025
Why a RB-by-committee could work for the Ravens in 2025 Derrick Henry is out of this universe, but the Ravens could benefit from a RB-by-committee approach in 2025. Everyone has done it at some point. We have all debated the NFL game. We have all obsessed over strategy. It's easy to throw on our imaginary Baltimore Ravens coaching caps and scream instructions from the couch in a temperature-controlled environment. Each time we do so, we arrive at the same lesson. Eric DeCosta doesn't ask us for advice on how to run the team. John Harbaugh and his staff never call us to discuss play calling. But, alas... None of that has ever lessened our desire to offer an unsolicited opinion. That doesn't mean we're uninformed. Football is a less complicated game than we make it. The passing game sets up a draw handoff. The screen is designed to combat the blitz. The rushing attack sets up the play-action pass, and yes, friends... Running games travel well in bad weather. Adding Derrick Henry to a Ravens offensive attack already featuring Lamar Jackson proved to be deadly. During the 2024-25 NFL season, Baltimore led the NFL in rushing yards (3,189) and yards per carry (5.8). They also led the NFL in rushing attempts that gained 20 yards or more. They enjoyed 29 of those, and they tied the Philadelphia Eagles and Arizona Cardinals for first place in rushing attempts that exceeded 40 yards. Each team had seven. Lamar and Derrick were quite the tandem, but Baltimore discovered they had a diamond on the roster in the form of Justice Hill. In 15 regular-season games, Hill tallied 228 yards and a 4.9 yards-per-carry average on 47 attempts. He's partially the reason for the following question. Should the Ravens exercise a committee approach in 2025? Why a committee approach for the Ravens' backfield may not be the best play It's hard, on the surface, to buy into any game plan that requires Derrick Henry to be given the ball less often. Just typing, reading the words, or saying them out loud seems asinine. The King's first season in Baltimore was the second most productive of what is already a Pro Football Hall of Fame-worthy career. He notched the second-highest rushing total of his career. He finished second only to Saquon Barkley while tacking on another Pro Bowl nod, his fifth. He also earned a Second-Team All-Pro nomination. King Henry is a threat to hit a home run from anywhere on the field. He's dangerous and downright scary any time he touches the football, and even if he doesn't, opposing defenses must be wary of him and account for him at all times. That sounds like a good enough reason never to take him off the field, right? But here's the thing. There's always a temptation to wonder if guys we don't know as well can shoulder a bigger load and perform well when asked to do more. The Ravens don't have that problem. They have two other potential game-changers who can spare The King to keep him fresh all season. Their presence makes it easy to argue that a little 'addition by subtraction' could pay dividends later. Their presence leads us to believe a committee approach may not be a bad thing. The argument for a committee approach in the Ravens' backfield So, how might this committee idea benefit The Flock? It's pretty simple. A well-rested Henry spells trouble for any team lining up vs. Baltimore during the postseason. The Ravens have the horses, guys who can shoulder the load while providing the proverbial (and literal) change of pace. The aforementioned Justice Hill put together a strong season when asked to relieve the top man on Baltimore's depth chart. In addition to what he added as a rusher, he chipped in as the Ravens' fifth-leading receiver, snagging 51 receptions and tallying 383 yards and a 9.1 yards-per-reception average. Three of Hill's touchdowns last season were scored as a receiver, but Henry and Hill alone do not make a backfield committee. For that, third-year Raven Keaton Mitchell must be added. He is expected to enjoy an expanded role this season. Mitchell is the speedster of this bunch if the ACL tear suffered during Week 15 of his rookie season is entirely behind him. He missed most of the most recent Ravens campaign after beginning the march on the PUP (physically unable to perform) list, but it was clear he wasn't 100% healthy upon his return and activation in Week 10. He won't get the ball much as Baltimore will favor Henry and Hill, but if Mitchell is ready to go in 2025, everyone should fear the Ravens forevermore. He was recently named a breakout candidate. If that theory proves to be accurate, he provides Lamar Jackson with another weapon and all but ensures what we already know. The Ravens have an excellent chance to lead the NFL in rushing again. Then, when the temperature drops, an already dominant running game can help catapult Baltimore into football's biggest game and another shot at their third Lombardi trophy. Now, wouldn't that be quite the sight to see?
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Ravens Star Key to Defeating Father Time in 2025
Ravens Star Key to Defeating Father Time in 2025 originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Baltimore Ravens will enter the 2025 season with one of the best rosters in football and some of the highest expectations. Once again, it's Super Bowl or bust for Baltimore, and with high-profile stars on both sides of the ball, the bar has justifiably been set. Advertisement In 2024, the Ravens were the second-most dangerous team in football on the ground, trailing only the Philadelphia Eagles and 2,000-yard rusher Saquon Barkley. The addition of Derrick Henry gave them a closer, a punishing back who can make sure the four-minute offense operates well. Henry rushed for 1,921 yards and 16 touchdowns and contributed 139 receiving yards and two receiving touchdowns. If there's a hitch in Baltimore's plan, Bleacher Report suggests it would be Henry struggling in 2025. 'Father Time finally catches up to a 31-year-old Derrick Henry just after signing a big, new contract, and the Ravens move in the wrong direction as a result,' Brad Gagnon wrote. However, Ravens star quarterback Lamar Jackson is key to Baltimore surviving regression from its starting running back. Advertisement The biggest risk in paying Henry is the opportunity cost of signing another contributor in a Super Bowl window. At 31, it's entirely possible that he stumbles down the cliff awaiting so many running backs. But even a diminished version of Henry isn't likely to be a detriment to the offense. The Ravens' run game was elite with Henry in 2024, finishing second in the league in expected points added per rush. In the four preceding seasons, Baltimore ranked first, 11th, second and third, respectively. This offense doesn't need Henry at his best to be elite. He makes them more dangerous in January and is a significant part of the team's plans, but Jackson's mobility has made every backfield configuration a strong one. There's no reason why that shouldn't continue in 2025. Henry has proven to be an outlier in his aging and durability. He should be expected to dominate again with Jackson's gravity making his life easier. Advertisement It goes without saying that the worst-case scenario for the Ravens is Jackson going down. In virtually any scenario, the two-time NFL MVP has the talent to weather the storm. Related: Ravens Defensive Trio Ranked Among NFL's Elite Related: Lamar Jackson Is Too Good To Lead NFL in Passing This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 15, 2025, where it first appeared.
