Baltimore Ravens fans are buzzing about the team's early 2026 NFL Draft selections of guard Vega Ioane, edge rusher Zion Young, as well as loading up on two big receivers, Ja'Kobi Lane and Elijah Sarratt. While they are inherently less flashy, late-round picks shouldn't be overlooked. To this end, fifth-round running back Adam Randall has the potential to be a pick that pays dividends for the Ravens long-term.
Randall is a jumbo-sized 6-foot-3 running back with impressive physicality, power, and speed. Sound familiar, Ravens fans? You've got to admit that sounds a bit like Derrick Henry.
Their combine measurements are eerily similar, with both players recording a 37-inch vertical, Henry ran a 4.54 40-yard dash, and Randall ran a 4.5 40-yard.
Now, listen, I'm not expecting Randall to play a sizable role in the Ravens' offense as a rookie or become an all-time great like Henry. That would be lofty expectations for a fifth-round pick.
Regardless, he could certainly develop behind Henry and eventually blossom into a legit contributor with a similar playstyle.
Adam Randall could eventually be Derrick Henry's successor
Randall had an impressive senior campaign at Clemson, recording 1,068 all-purpose yards and 13 all-purpose touchdowns. What makes Randall a truly intriguing player is that he switched from receiver to running back. As such, he has impressive pass-catching tools in addition to his impact as a physically imposing power back.
This skill set could allow Randall to carve out a role in particular situations as a rookie.
It's fair to wonder whether his lack of experience as a running back will catch up to him at the NFL level. Nevertheless, his impressive college production speaks for itself and bodes well for his pro outlook.
At 32, Henry is still as good as ever, but the reality is that at some point, he'll start to decline. Thus, it would behoove the Ravens to have some young players waiting for a bigger role when this day comes.
Before this weekend, the Ravens didn't have this with Rasheen Ali (25) being the team's youngest RB option, but he hasn't shown much upside in his limited opportunities. Justice Hill (28) is a solid backup but not someone you'd consider Henry's eventual successor, especially given his age.
It's entirely possible that Randall blossoms into Henry's successor if the Ravens can find spots to develop him. Randall's physical gifts give him a high upside, and there's no better player to learn from than Henry.
Whenever the Ravens have to replace Henry, it would be ideal to replicate his style to some degree, and it's possible that Randall can do just that. The proof will be in the pudding, but the Ravens might have found a massive draft-day steal with Randall.
If Randall pans out, owner Steve Bisciotti will deserve credit for his evaluation -- that's right, the bossman made his first-ever draft selection, and it might end up being a masterstroke.
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