Ravens' Derrick Henry calls on doubters to 'keep watching'

OWINGS MILLS, Md. – Just three questions In his introductory news conference with the Baltimore Ravens, Derrick Henry addressed the biggest concern about his future.

What was the runaway star's response to those who say that his best days are behind him?

“I tell them to keep watching,” Henry said Thursday. “People will always have something to say — they'll always have opinions. I'm ready to get to work, ready to get things going and do the best I can to help this organization.”

One of the most dominant running backs in the NFL over the past eight seasons, Henry has officially signed his two-year, $16 million contract with the Ravens. He finished with more than 1,100 yards rushing and double-digit touchdowns in each of the past two seasons, but he turns 30 in January — an age at which a running back could face a decline in playing time.

In the Super Bowl era, there have been 26 running backs who recorded 1,000-yard rushing seasons after turning 30, according to ESPN Stats & Information. Of those 26 running backs, 13 gained more than 1,000 yards and rushed multiple times in their 30s.

The Ravens expressed confidence in Henry, who was their first addition in free agency this year.

“He's kind of a unicorn, to be honest,” Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta said. “It's a combination of speed, strength and durability.”

Over the past five seasons, Henry has displayed that speed and power, leading running backs in most rushing yards after first contact and most touches reaching at least 20 mph. His 3,527 yards rushing after first contact is 932 more than any other running back since 2019, and his 22 touches of at least 20 mph are more than Saquon Barkley (18) and Jonathan Taylor (17) during that span.

Henry also proved to be one of the most reliable players, playing at least 15 games in seven of his eight seasons in the league.

“This type of guy is rare,” DeCosta said. “We have some here in Baltimore. They're just different from everyone else, and I think Derek is a good example of that.”

DeCosta said the Ravens tried to acquire Henry before last year's trade deadline, and the four-time Pro Bowler said he thought there was a “good chance” he would come to Baltimore at the end of October. About five months later, the Ravens landed Henry a deal that could be worth up to $20 million, including $9 million guaranteed in year one, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter.

“When you evaluate the tape, and you watch the player, and you see the history of the player, and you talk to the people who were around the player, it made all the sense in the world for us to target Derrick,” DeCosta said.

Henry agreed to a deal with the Ravens on Tuesday, the second day of the NFL's negotiating window in free agency.

At that point, 10 other players had agreed to contracts with other teams, but Henry said there was no doubt he would end up in Baltimore.

“It was really a no-brainer for me,” Henry said. “This is where I knew I wanted to be. I like the style and physicality they play with in all three phases. I feel like it suits my style of play as well.”

Henry was wearing a purple jacket with a black shirt and tie, which he wore to his grandmother's funeral in 2016. Purple was the favorite color of the grandmother who raised him.

When Henry was told about a Ravens press conference, he raced through moving boxes to find this suit.

“I definitely wanted to wear this color to honor her and to show all the fans around Flock Nation that I'm ready,” Henry said.