Ravens' Derrick Henry 'Happy' To See Running Backs Get Paid In Free Agency
Few positions have become more devalued in the NFL than running back.
While having a dynamic running back can change the game, getting a second contract at a position that typically has the shortest prime has been difficult in recent offseasons, as teams either opted not to give them the big contract their play warranted or take another running back in the draft to replace them. That changed this offseason, as 11 running backs signed multi-year contracts during free agency, including Derrick Henry signing a two-year, $16 million contract with the Baltimore Ravens.
Derrick Henry.
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While Henry's play has led to him being an exception to the notion, as his deal with Baltimore was the second contract he has signed after his rookie deal, other running backs haven't been as fortunate. With the script getting flipped in free agency this year, Henry spoke about how the deals made him feel on The Adam Schefter Podcast.
"I was actually happy," Henry said. "I thought it was kind of cool. From us going into the season [and] stating our opinion on what the running back market is and the value of the running back position [and] trying to fight for everything that we can get as far as a group and forming that message. Us trying to do something collectively to start something to be able to have a better market overall for the running backs and the guys that are behind us."
Among the running backs who ran into trouble getting a second contract were Saquon Barkley, Josh Jacobs and Tony Pollard. All three were franchise-tagged last offseason and forced to either play on it or a one-year deal. The struggles of last offseason paid off this year, as Barkley got a 3-year, $37.75 million deal with the Philadelphia Eagles, Jacobs signed a 4-year $48 million contract with the Green Bay Packers, and Pollard signed a 3-year, $21 million deal with Henry's former team, the Tennessee Titans.
Their deals were three of the four highest-paid running backs deals this offseason. D'Andre Swift signed a 3-year, $24 million deal with the Chicago Bears, which was the third-biggest deal.
With numerous big contracts for running backs this offseason, Henry hopes it can become a trend for the position and teams moving forward.
"Us seeing Saquon go, and Josh, I thought that was cool and they got what they felt like was their worth and I was happy for every single guy to finally get their share due," Henry said. Hopefully, it continues. I felt like teams want to get away from it but I felt like this free agency, they were like we still have hope that these backs on the market can change the game and are generational, special backs."
