The Baltimore Ravens made some major changes to their backfield in the 2024 NFL offseason. Virtually their entire running back depth chart from last season is gone, with Melvin Gordon, Dalvin Cook, J.K. Dobbins and Gus Edwards all moving on.
While Dobbins and Edwards both landed with the Los Angeles Chargers, Gordon and Cook remain free agents. To replace them, the Ravens brought arguably the most dominating running back of this generation; Derrick Henry.
After spending the first eight seasons of his career with the Tennessee Titans, Henry moved on this offseason, landing in Baltimore. It was a big move for a Ravens team that fell just short of a Super Bowl appearance last season.
There are a lot of fans who are excited about what is to come with Henry in the backfield. After being the focal point of the Titans’ attack for years, he will play a complementary role in Baltimore.
The shining star in this unit is quarterback Lamar Jackson. Jackson won his second MVP award last season, helping the Ravens go 13-4 in the regular season, earning the No. 1 seed in the AFC.
Alas, it didn’t help them get over the hump. Despite hosting an AFC Championship game for the first time in franchise history, they were defeated by the eventual Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs.
Will the addition of Henry help take pressure off of Jackson and help them reach the promised land? Former NFL star wide receiver turned FOX Sports analyst Plaxico Burress certainly believes so.
During a recent segment of The Carton Show on FS1, a topic of discussion was ranking the top quarterback/running back duos in the NFL. In Burress’s opinion, the No. 1 spot is held by Jackson and Henry.
“I think they would be No. 1 from a pure running back, quarterback standpoint,” Burress said.
The Ravens haven’t had the best postseason success with Jackson under center, but there is no denying his talent. He is as dynamic as any player in the NFL and is in the conversation as the best-rushing quarterback ever.
Adding Henry to the mix will only make this running game more dangerous. They were finding success with unheralded players or veterans well past their prime. Imagine what they can do with Henry, coming off two straight seasons with 1,100+ yards.
While Henry may not be the best running back in the NFL any longer, he still remains a reliable option in the backfield. As the reigning MVP, Jackson is one of the best players as well. That certainly sounds like strong qualifications fo Burress’s argument they should be No. 1.
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