The Baltimore Ravens are expecting nothing less than another championship push in 2024, as the signing of Derrick Henry pushes the team further into win-now mode. Henry is still one of the best at his position in the league despite his age.
While Henry did lead all running backs in carries during four of the last five years (and would have in 2021 if he stayed healthy), the former Tennessee Titans star has a showstopping blend of raw power, open-field playmaking, and pure speed that will play well alongside Lamar Jackson.
Skeptical Ravens fans might need to listen to the opinion of a former MVP running back, as former Seattle Seahawks star Shaun Alexander is very bullish on Henry’s potential. Appearing on “Up and Adams,” Alexander, a fellow Alabama alum running back believes Henry can be the driving force on a Ravens offense that makes it to the Super Bowl.
“I think he’s really that good,” Alexander said. “He’s such a special, dominant athlete. He trains like he’s a little guy, always trying to stay fit. But he also throws so much weight around…I think that his body can still do it for a few years, so I think he’s going to do something really special.”
.@shaunalexander thinks fellow #Bama RB alum Derrick Henry still has PLENTY left in the tank to be a force in Baltimore 😈 #RavensFlock@KingHenry_2 @Ravens @heykayadams https://t.co/K9oQpJRWMd pic.twitter.com/9dgjE5bddj
— Up & Adams (@UpAndAdamsShow) May 20, 2024
Shaun Alexander believes Derrick Henry can lead Baltimore Ravens to Super Bowl
The Ravens invested in Henry believing that he can slow down the approach of Father Time. Thanks to his unusual size and impressive speed, he has more than enough physical tools needed to avoid breaking down at an age when most running backs are hanging it up.
John Harbaugh and the Ravens, who run the ball as well as any team in the league, have often been criticized for abandoning the run too early when faced with a deficit in the playoffs. Adding Henry to the mix should alleviate that, especially due to his penchant for improving as the game goes into the second half.
Henry will be joining a team that has a better offensive line than what he had during his final year in Tennessee and an MVP quarterback to attract most of the defense’s attention. This situation is favorable for any running back, let alone one just a few yards shy of 10,000 in his career.
In terms of being a pure bell cow, there may not be three or four backs in the league better than Henry right now. Alexander’s excitement over Henry in Baltimore is warranted, as the best-case scenario could involve Baltimore’s third Super Bowl championship.