Baltimore Ravens have simple reason for believing Derrick Henry is still at his peak

Derrick Henry will be a big part of the Baltimore Ravens offense in 2024.

The Ravens signed Henry to a two-year, $16 million contract in the offseason, giving their offense the type of dominant running back that hasn’t been present during Lamar Jackson’s career.

And though Henry and the Ravens offense seems like a perfect match, there is the potential for downside. Henry is 30, with a lot of miles under his belt, having led the NFL in carries four times and rushing yards twice. The 2023 season was one of Henry’s worst statistical season, with his fewest yards per carry and fewest yards per game since 2018.

The Ravens are betting that Henry’s 2023 season wasn’t a sign of things to come, and they have a simple reason for it.

According to ESPN’s Jamison Hensley, the Ravens believe Henry’s “elite” work ethic will keep him from declining over the next two years.

Henry was present on the first day of voluntary offseason workouts and the first day of OTAs. Henry told Hensley that it’s important to him that he earns respect from his teammates by working hard.

“One thing about Derrick — he works,” Ravens coach John Harbaugh said, via Hensley. “He is a worker, 100% every day, locked in, asks questions, ready to go at practice, in the weight room, training room. [I’m] very impressed. This guy is a true pro, ultimate pro.”

Ravens’ strength and conditioning coordinator believes Henry’s dedication to training hard will keep Henry at his peak.

“He attacks everything with such a high level of intent — intent with tenacity,” Elliott told Hensley. “That’s why he’s Derrick Henry. That’s why what we’re going to help him do is keep that same trajectory.

“He’s had one heck of a career, [and] our goal is that it gets even better from here. [It’s] not [about] age, not years of service — none of that. He keeps getting better and better.”

The Ravens did seemingly add in a bit of motivation for Henry by giving him contract incentives for rushing yards and touchdowns.

It seems as if he’ll be given the chance to earn those incentives. Harbaugh previously described what Henry’s role in Baltimore will look like.

“I think what it’s going to look like is what it looked like in Tennessee: him running for a lot of yards,” Harbaugh said.

Author(s)

Scott Davis has been covering the Knicks and NBA for over a decade, most recently with Business Insider from 2014 to 2023. He has interviewed everyone from star players and coaches to high-profile trainers, while reporting on trade demands, free agency rumors and more.