Derrick Henry Named Non-QB Who Will Make or Break Ravens’ Super Bowl Chances
Bleacher Report’s Alex Kay named one non-quarterback from each Super Bowl contender who will make or break their team’s chances of hoisting the Lombardi Trophy.
For the Ravens, that player is Derrick Henry.
“If Henry can stay healthy, the Ravens will gain an edge they haven’t had in recent postseason trips,” Kay wrote. “Baltimore hasn’t had a running back top 1,000 rushing yards since Mark Ingram did in 2019, and its backfield has been even less impactful in the playoffs. Justice Hill led the team with 69 yards on 16 carries in two postseason games last year, while J.K. Dobbins had a team-high 62 yards on 13 carries in the Ravens’ 2022 wild-card-round loss.
“Across his career, Henry has averaged more than 100 rushing yards in the playoffs and has scored four rushing touchdowns in seven postseason games. He has a track record of coming up big when it matters most, too. … No Ravens running back has scored a playoff touchdown since Dobbins did in the wild-card round after the 2020 season. A healthy and driven Henry could be the piece that Baltimore needs to win its first title since Super Bowl XLVII over a decade ago.”
Three Ravens First-Rounders Were Best Pick at Their Slots Over Past Decade
Pro Football Focus’ Trevor Sikkema looked at the best pick at every slot in the first-round over the past decade, and three Ravens made the list:
No. 16 CB Marlon Humphrey (2017)
“I went back and forth between Taylor Decker and Humphrey but gave the edge to the Ravens cornerback because he has the higher career wins above replacement figure (0.33 compared to Decker’s 0.17).”
Others considered: OT Taylor Decker (2016), EDGE Brian Burns (2019), CB A.J. Terrell (2019).
No. 28 Patrick Queen (2020)
“Queen’s career got off to a rough start, as he recorded 29.7 and 43.5 PFF overall grades in his first two seasons. But his past two single-season grades have been above 70.0. That high overall grade was based on much better coverage grades in 2022 and 2023.”
Others considered: EDGE Payton Turner (2021).
No. 32 Lamar Jackson (2018)
“T.J. Watt’s selection at No. 30 was easy, but the Ravens getting the two-time MVP Lamar Jackson at No. 32 is somehow even better.”
Others considered: OT Ryan Ramczyk (2017).
Other Ravens picks who received consideration were OT Ronnie Stanley (at No. 6) and S Kyle Hamilton (at No. 14).
Adisa Isaac, Devontez Walker Are Rookies Who Can Make Immediate Impact
Every year there are rookies who make an immediate impact that weren’t drafted in the first round. CBS Sports’ Chris Trapasso identified one rookie selected after Day 1 from each team who can flourish this season.
Third-round edge rusher Adisa Isaac was the pick for the Ravens.
“An above-average athlete who loves to get low around the corner on his outside speed rush, Isaac is the exact classification of edge rusher the Baltimore defense needs. … Isaac registered a pressure on close to 15% of his pass-rushing opportunities over the past two years at Penn State,” Trapasso wrote.
Meanwhile, CBS Sports’ Tyler Sullivan said fourth-round wide receiver Devontez Walker is an under-the-radar player who can play a key role for the Ravens.
“The fourth-round pick out of UNC put together some sensational games for the Tar Heels last year, and the Ravens could use another wideout to emerge within the offense,” Sullivan wrote. “Given his upside, Walker will be given a chance to carve out a sizable role.”
Ravens Named Ideal Fit for Veteran Edge Rusher
The Ravens have a recent history of signing veteran edge rushers late in the offseason, and Last Word on Sports’ David Latham believes free agent Jerry Hughes would be an ideal fit.
“Jerry Hughes is the perfect free agent for this cash-strapped team, as he can start if needed but is better off as a situational backup complementing Odafe Oweh, Kyle Van Noy, and possibly David Ojabo,” Latham wrote.
Hughes, who turns 36 in August, has 70 sacks and 152 starts in his career. He had three sacks in a situational role with the Houston Texans last season after recording nine sacks, one shy of his career high, in 2022.
