Derrick Henry was an absolute wrecking ball in 2024. The Ravens’ decision to pair him with Lamar Jackson turned out to be pure football magic, as Henry bulldozed his way through defenses all season. According to PFF, he earned the highest rushing grade in the NFL (93.5), led the league in missed tackles forced (88), and averaged over six yards per carry.
More importantly, when Henry ran for at least 90 yards, the Ravens never lost. That’s how much of a game-changer he was.
But here’s the thing—Henry is now 31 years old. He’s still one of the most dominant backs in the league, but Father Time is undefeated. Henry himself has said he wants to retire as a Raven, which is great, but Baltimore also has to be realistic about the future. Could that future include Boise State’s Ashton Jeanty, a potential first-round pick who just put up one of the most ridiculous college seasons we’ve ever seen?
Baltimore is set to meet with Jeanty ahead of the NFL Combine, but they’re far from alone. The New York Giants, Denver Broncos, Minnesota Vikings, Pittsburgh Steelers, Indianapolis Colts, Chicago Bears, Los Angeles Chargers, and New Orleans Saints are all in the mix as well. That’s a lot of teams eyeing the Boise State star, and if the Ravens are serious about keeping their ground game elite long-term, they may need to act fast.
The following teams have formal meetings scheduled with Boise State RB Ashton Jeanty, per source:
— Ryan Fowler (@_RyanFowler_) February 25, 2025
• Giants
• Broncos
• Vikings
• Steelers
• Colts
• Bears
• Chargers
• Ravens
• Saints
Ashton Jeanty falling to the Ravens would be a nightmare... for opposing defenses
The Ravens don’t draft for need. They never have. They take the best player available and figure out the rest later. And if Jeanty is somehow still on the board at No. 27? It wouldn’t be shocking to see general manager Eric DeCosta pull the trigger.
Jeanty rushed for 2,601 yards and 29 touchdowns last season, falling just 28 yards short of Barry Sanders’ all-time single-season record. He did this while averaging nearly seven yards per carry and proving he’s more than just a power back—he’s someone who should never leave the field. If Baltimore wants to keep its ground game as dominant as it was in 2024, this could easily be the guy to do it.
At the same time, the Ravens already have Justice Hill, Keaton Mitchell, and rookie Rasheen Ali on the roster. None of them are built to be full-time workhorses, but they do give Baltimore tons of flexibility. Plus, the Ravens have other areas to address in the draft—offensive line depth, cornerback depth, and maybe even another receiver. There are always areas for improvement.
Still, if Jeanty falls, Baltimore might have to legitimately consider taking him—hence the meeting. The Ravens had the best rushing attack in the league last year, and with Henry wanting to finish his career in Baltimore, it makes sense to have a seamless transition plan in place. Whether that’s Jeanty or someone else remains to be seen—but the Ravens are clearly doing their homework.