Derrick Henry Says He Wants to Retire With Ravens; Under Contract Through 2025 Season

Derrick Henry's first season with the Baltimore Ravens resulted in 1,921 rushing yards, 16 touchdowns and a playoff berth, so it shouldn't come as a major surprise that he wants to run it back beyond just next season.

"I want to retire a Raven," he told The Athletic's Dianna Russini during the NFL Honors red carpet.

Henry, 31, is only under contract through the 2025 season, though the Ravens have expressed interest in potentially exploring a contract extension.

"I think he proved he had a lot left in the tank. We'll look at that, it's a good question," general manager Eric DeCosta told reporters in January when asked if the team was considering an extension that might also reduce his $12.8 million cap hit next season. "I'm just so grateful Derrick chose us last year."

The veteran running back has proven to be quite the bargain on the two-year, $16 million deal he signed with Baltimore last offseason. His $8 million in average annual value ranks just 11th in the NFL at the running back position, per Spotrac, well below players like Christian McCaffrey ($19 million), Jonathan Taylor ($14 million) and Saquon Barkley ($12.5 million).

One concern for the Ravens when it comes to an extension is Henry's age, however. Running backs are generally in danger of losing a step and becoming less effective after the age of 30, and while Henry showed little signs of that last season, at some point the wear-and-tear on his body will take a toll.

He's led the NFL in rushing attempts in four different seasons (2019, 2020, 2022, 2023), has over 300 touches in five of the past six years and has at least 230 touches in seven straight seasons. Even in 2021 he had 221 carries in just eight games, a shocking workload in the NFL's running-back-by-committee age, before a broken bone in his foot cost him nine regular-season contests.

So any extension probably wouldn't add more than a year or two to Henry's current deal. But his epic 2024 season was proof enough that he isn't slowing down just yet.