OWINGS MILS — The Ravens sent shockwaves throughout the NFL on Tuesday by reaching an agreement to sign running back Derrick Henry to a multi-year deal.

Henry boosts a Ravens running attack that was the best in the league last year and adds a dynamic to an offense led by quarterback and reigning NFL MVP Lamar Jackson.

Henry is excited to be a Raven:

Henry will sign a two-year, $16 million contract worth up to $20 million, including $9 million fully guaranteed in the first year, according to ESPN insider Adam Schefter. Free agents can’t officially sign until Wednesday.

Henry turned 30 on January 4th but is still a dominant player and can carry a team. The Ravens will try to make another deep run in the playoffs next season, and Henry elevates their chances.

The reaction among the players and pundits was as impressive as the deal.

“Imagine being a linebacker with Patrick Ricard and Derrick Henry running right at your face,” former Ravens wide receiver Torrey Smith said on X, formerly Twitter.

Former Ravens and Titans wide receiver Derrick Mason tweeted: “@KingHenry_2 congrats on deal with @Ravens! Went from one great organization to another!”

“Not sure which news I’m most excited about: Blocking for 👑 Henry every game, or getting to 🥞 @Patrickqueen_
twice a year 🤷🏼‍♂️,” Ravens fullback Pat Ricard said on social media.

The move also caught several Ravens players by surprise.

“No way we was texting yesterday and you didn’t even say nothing about this lol,” cornerback Marlon Humphrey tweeted.

Henry, 30, has run for at least 1,000 yards and 12 touchdowns in five of the last six seasons. He also led the NFL in rushing in 2019 (1,540), and in 2020, when he became the eighth running back in NFL history to register more than 2,000 rushing yards in a single season (2,027).

Over Jackson’s six-year career with the Ravens, Mark Ingram is the only running back who has rushed for more than 1,000 yards.

“Henry joins the reigning AFC North champions in the hopes of pushing them a step further in their Super Bowl hopes after they fell short in last season’s AFC Championship Game to the eventual champion Kansas City Chiefs,” NFL.com’s Grant Gordon wrote. “Questions will be plentiful as to how much Henry has left in the tank, but the Ravens are hoping he’ll provide the backfield presence that will push them to a Lombardi Trophy.”

Before agreeing to terms with Henry, the Ravens had just two running backs under contract — Justice Hill and Keaton Mitchell, whose rookie season ended when he tore his ACL against Jacksonville in Week 15. Mitchell might not be available until midway through the 2024 season. General manager Eric DeCosta will likely draft a running back and add a veteran player for training camp, but it’s going to be Henry’s show.