Baltimore Beatdown
The Ravens general manager all but guaranteed the team would be keeping the future Hall of Famer beyond 2025.
For fans hoping the Baltimore Ravens will be one of the team’s venturing into free agency looking to add a notable veteran this offseason, general manager Eric DeCosta poured cold water on the notion during his media availability at the NFL Combine on Tuesday.
“We don’t have a lot of cap room. We have [vice president of football administration] Nick Matteo working tirelessly to find some space for us,” DeCosta said. “We call it ‘couch cushion coins.’ We’re trying to find 50 grand here, 75 grand there and a couch cushion. But we’re not a team that’s going to make a lot of splashes, generally speaking.”
Last offseason, the Ravens bucked that trend when they signed future Hall of Fame running back and two-time rushing champion, Derrick Henry, during the initial wave of free agency. While the move was a splash in terms of notoriety, it was a prime manifestation of the front office’s “right player [and] right price” mantra as the contract itself was an absolute steal given the elite level he produced. DeCosta inked him to a two-year deal worth $16 million and he vastly outperformed his salary, racking up the second-most rushing yards in the league with 1,921 and tying for the league lead in rushing touchdowns with 16.
Since the Ravens season ended, Henry has publicly expressed his desire to finish his career in Baltimore and his 2024 campaign suggests he has plenty more left in the tank despite having turned 31 in January. In addition to saying how much he loves being on the team, he also indirectly hinted that he believes he is worthy of a pay raise as well in the form of an extension.
When asked about the possibility of extending Henry on Tuesday, DeCosta shared with reporters that Ravens Senior Vice President of Media, Michelle Andres, who was in attendance for the press conference helps him decorate his office wall and that it will soon include a photo of Henry.
“So, what does that tell you?” DeCosta asked followed by laughter.
DeCosta praised Henry for his phenomenal work ethic and for being a consummate professional with how he preforms on the field, carries himself off the field and prepares during the offseason.
“He does everything the right way, the way that he practices, the way that he takes care of his body, his mentality on the field, his leadership, his talent – he’s freakishly talented – his combination of size and speed,” DeCosta said. “He was just a perfect player for us last year. [He was] the right addition, and he brought a lot to the table on the field and also off the field with intangible qualities. We’re blessed to have him, and I would expect his successes last year to continue this year.”
Signing Henry to an extension this offseason before the new league begins could be one of the...
