Should the New York Giants, who are clearly big-game hunting in the running back market with the Nov. 10 NFL trade deadline approaching, try to bring Derrick Henry to New York?
Head coach John Harbaugh has said he would love for the Giants to have a “Derrick Henry or Saquon Barkley situation” with the Giants. Clearly, Harbaugh does not believe Cam Skattebo gives him that.
The Baltimore Ravens’ season is falling apart. Baltimore is 4-4, last in the NFC North, and has lost its top two quarterbacks, Lamar
Jackson (thumb) and Tyler Huntly (turf toe) for the season. The Ravens are going nowhere fast.
Mike Florio said on PFT Live that Henry should be begging for a trade to the Giants.
“If you’re Derrick Henry, are you showing up today and are you saying ‘Please trade me to the Giants’, or another contender … The season is going down the s——— for the Ravens right now. If I’m Henry and I’m looking at the calendar and I’m looking at the schedule and I’m looking at the situation and I’m thinking I’m not getting any younger and I’d kinda like to have a playoff run.
“If I’m the Giants and I’m looking at Jonathan Taylor if I’m John Harbaugh I’m calling my former GM Eric DeCosta today and I’m saying ‘is there any way that Derrick Henry could be available’.”
Why it would work
Henry, 6-foot-3, 252 pounds, has been one of the pre-eminent running backs in football for a decade. He was the lynchpin of Harbaugh’s rushing attacks with the Ravens the past two seasons, and is the model power/bellcow/explosive running back for a Harbaugh offense.
Henry is 32 with more than 3,000 touches in his career. That is a lot of mileage for a running back, and Henry is clearly past what is usually considered the expiration date for when backs are usually at their best. He gained more than 3,500 yards averaged more than 5 yards per carry the last two seasons with Harbaugh.
Henry is averaging a career-low 4.0 yards per carry this year. Is that about Henry? Jackson barely playing? A new offense with a team that has now lost three straight games?
Henry is in the final year of his contract. The Giants would be responsible only for the remaining pro-rated portions of his $11 million base salary and $1 million roster bonus. He has three void years in his contract, but the Ravens would be responsible for those as dead money.
As a rental, the Giants might not have to surrender as much draft capital for Henry as they would for Taylor.
Harbaugh has clearly shown a willingness to pick up the phone and try to broker deals. His relationships with DeCosta and Baltimore owner Steve Bisciotti might help get this one done.
Why it wouldn’t work
There are only two reasons I can think of. Maybe Henry really is finally slowing down. It would be up to Harbaugh and the Giants’ pro personnel department to make that decision. The other would be that the Giants might choose not to go the rental route.
