The Baltimore Ravens made one of the biggest splashes in NFL free agency this offseason by signing running back Derrick Henry. While it was the perfect landing spot for the All-Pro talent, there were some questions about how many touches Henry would receive in 2024.
Baltimore has relied on running back committee pretty extensively in recent seasons. In 2023, quarterback Lamar Jackson (148 carries) along with running backs Gus Edwards (198) and Justice Hill (84) saw plenty of opportunities. In 2022, Jackson (112), Kenan Drake (109), J.J. Dobbins (92) and Edwards (87) split touches.
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In fact, the Ravens had a running back receive 200 carries in a season since Mark Ingram had 202 carries in 2019. Plus, with the change at offensive coordinator last season from Greg Roman to Todd Monken, the passing attack became a more consistent part of the Ravens’ offense.
However, the signing of Henry signaled a real change in Baltimore. With Keaton Mitchell recovering from a torn ACL and Edwards now with the Los Angeles Chargers, there’s a prime opportunity for the All-Pro running back to be the featured ball carrier in Baltimore’s offense.
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Derrick Henry 2024 outlook
Speaking to reporters, Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken indicated the team envisions Henry as the bell-cow running back he was with the Tennessee Titans and that includes possibly giving him 300 carries across the regular season.
“I know this: If [Henry] carries it 300 times, we’re having a helluva year. It means we’re running it a lot. It means we’re up in games. We want him to finish, [and] we want him to be the closer.”
Todd Monken on his Derrick Henry 2024 outlook with the Baltimore Ravens (H/T BaltimoreRavens.com)
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For context, no NFL running back even received 290 carries during the 2023 season. Henry led the NFL in carries (280), which marked the second time in three years that he had under 300 carries. However, up until the 2023 season, he averaged 22.7 carries per game from 2019-’22.
If Henry receives anything close to 300 carries, which wouldn’t even include the 25-plus receptions he hauls in, he would be the overwhelming favorite to lead the NFL in rushing yards and touchdowns in 2024. The Ravens offensive line is better than what he ran behind in Tennessee and the supporting cast around him could lead to another huge season from Henry.