Four Landing Spots For Derrick Henry As Trade Deadline Nears

The Baltimore Ravens are in a free fall and will have to make a decision about the future of the franchise before the NFL trade deadline. After an embarrassing 33-10 home loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars on Thursday Night Football, first-year coach Jesse Minter is now 4-5. The Ravens have dropped four games in a row and there doesn’t appear to be much in the way of a liferaft materializing.

Starting quarterback Lamar Jackson is on the injured reserved list. So is backup Tyler Huntley. Joe Fagnano was brutal against the Jags, completing 10 of his 18 pass attempts for a grand total of 80 yards while throwing two interceptions. Over the past three weeks Baltimore has been outscored 104-33 and looked like one of the worst teams in the league.

MORE: Frustrated Derrick Henry reacts to Ravens’ four-game losing streak amid trade rumors

All of this makes it a lot more likely for Derrick Henry to be used as a trade piece over the next few days.

The 32-year-old running back was asked about the possibility after Thursday night’s game.

“I have not mentioned me going anywhere else,” Henry said. “I’m saying, ‘Let’s go back to work. Let’s try to get better and turn this thing around.'”

Derrick Henry’s value

Jonathan Taylor remains the No. 1 running back option for teams looking to make a mid-season splash in the backfield. But there’s no doubt that Henry would have a lot of interested suitors if the Ravens make it known they are open for business. Though he is having a down year by his high standards, the prospect of adding a future Hall of Famer is an attractive proposition.

ESPN’s Dan Graziano recently laid out the case for why a Henry move could serve as a win-win.

“Henry is turning 33 in January,” Graziano said. “He is scheduled to earn $12 million next year, and none of that money is guaranteed. If he isn’t in Baltimore’s plans beyond this year, the Ravens could find themselves fielding offers over the next week. Henry’s base salary this year is just $1.255 million (he made the rest of this year’s $14 million via bonuses the Ravens have already paid), so he’d be extremely easy for another team to absorb onto its cap.”

Potential Derrick Henry destinations

New York Giants: Henry’s former coach John Harbaugh is enjoying surprising success as the Giants sit atop the NFC East with a 4-2-1 record. But running back has been a spot where the club has struggled to find a regular option as Cam Skattebo and Tyrone Tracy have suffered injuries, leaving Devin Singletary as the Band-Aid. This reconciliation makes all the sense the world and New York might be the favorites for Henry’s services.

Green Bay Packers: Josh Jacobs recently returned from the exempt list but certainly has not been setting the world on fire. As a team the Packers are struggling to eclipse three yards per carry. They need every bit of help they can get as they try to navigate an extremely competitive NFC North.

Seattle Seahawks: The defending Super Bowl champions have, like so many other teams, had to dodge injuries to their backfield by committee. A consistent formula has yet to emerge and Henry presents a great option for a team that wants to rely on its defense and melt clock.