{"id":31867,"date":"2025-03-10T03:09:18","date_gmt":"2025-03-10T03:09:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/usatoday.azontree.com\/?p=31867"},"modified":"2025-03-10T03:09:18","modified_gmt":"2025-03-10T03:09:18","slug":"derrick-henry-vs-saquon-barkley-debate-moves-ravens-to-contract-hot-seat","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/usatoday.azontree.com\/?p=31867","title":{"rendered":"Derrick Henry vs. Saquon Barkley Debate Moves Ravens To Contract Hot Seat"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"m-detail-header--dek\">The Philadelphia Eagles just extended the only back better from Derrick Henry\u2019s free agent class, Saquon Barkley. &#8230; and they did so rather voluntarily. How should the Baltimore Ravens respond?<\/div>\n<div class=\"m-detail-header--flexbox\">\n<div class=\"m-detail-header--meta\">\n<div class=\"m-description--list\">\n<p>The\u00a0Baltimore Ravens\u00a0were smart. And the Baltimore Ravens were lucky.<\/p>\n<p>They knew when they signed him a year ago that they got away with a steal given the success running back\u00a0Derrick Henry\u00a0had in 2024 &#8211; and they were right. Henry led the league in touchdowns and the Ravens were second in expected points added per play and success rate on the ground.<\/p>\n<p>But &#8230;<\/p>\n<p>If they were hoping to get away with that robbery of a two-year, $16 million deal, the early-offseason moves around the league haven\u2019t been kind to them.<\/p>\n<aside class=\"m-in-content-ad-row l-inline mm-in-content-ad-row--in-content not-size-a not-size-b not-size-d\" data-ad-group=\"in_content-0\">\n<div class=\"m-in-content-ad not-size-a not-size-b not-size-d\" data-ad-group=\"in_content-0\" data-zone-count=\"4\">\n<div class=\"not-size-a not-size-b not-size-d m-in-content-ad is-loaded\">\n<div id=\"ad-in_content-2bb3512145d94f468b4961e08cd72d7a\" data-google-query-id=\"CJmu1P3D_osDFVXfTAIdnSgNoQ\" data-ad-size=\"0x0\">\n<div id=\"google_ads_iframe_\/88059007\/athlonsports.com\/nfl_2__container__\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" id=\"google_ads_iframe_\/88059007\/athlonsports.com\/nfl_2\" tabindex=\"0\" title=\"3rd party ad content\" src=\"https:\/\/762d571bbc101e7ec2547aa5ea95cd9c.safeframe.googlesyndication.com\/safeframe\/1-0-41\/html\/container.html\" name=\"\" width=\"0\" height=\"102\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" sandbox=\"allow-forms allow-popups allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox allow-same-origin allow-scripts allow-top-navigation-by-user-activation\" data-is-safeframe=\"true\" aria-label=\"Advertisement\" data-google-container-id=\"3\" data-load-complete=\"true\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<p>The\u00a0Philadelphia Eagles\u00a0just extended the only back better from Henry\u2019s free agent class,\u00a0Saquon Barkley. &#8230; and they did so rather voluntarily.<\/p>\n<p>The deal \u2013 unnecessary given the nature of his three-year, $37.75 million contract \u2013 made Barkley the league\u2019s first $20 million per-year running back. At two years, $41.2 million with $36 million guaranteed, Barkley was well compensated for his 2,000-yard campaign.<\/p>\n<aside class=\"m-in-content-ad-row l-inline mm-in-content-ad-row--in-content not-size-a not-size-b not-size-d\" data-ad-group=\"in_content-1\">\n<div class=\"m-in-content-ad not-size-a not-size-b not-size-d\" data-ad-group=\"in_content-1\" data-zone-count=\"4\">\n<div class=\"not-size-a not-size-b not-size-d m-in-content-ad is-loaded\">\n<div id=\"ad-in_content-16e64d147230486c9953f134674e5dcb\" data-google-query-id=\"CL-vw_3D_osDFUfrTAIdNH4r5Q\" data-ad-size=\"300x250\">\n<div id=\"google_ads_iframe_\/88059007\/athlonsports.com\/nfl_6__container__\"><iframe id=\"google_ads_iframe_\/88059007\/athlonsports.com\/nfl_6\" tabindex=\"0\" title=\"3rd party ad content\" name=\"google_ads_iframe_\/88059007\/athlonsports.com\/nfl_6\" width=\"300\" height=\"250\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" aria-label=\"Advertisement\" data-load-complete=\"true\" data-google-container-id=\"7\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<p>If Philadelphia can reward its star for a successful season, why can\u2019t general manager Eric DeCosta? The Eagles\u2019 deal almost dares the\u00a0Ravens\u00a0to extend Henry.<\/p>\n<p>DeCosta\u2019s recent comments didn\u2019t shut down that speculation that the Ravens are now on the contractual hot seat with &#8220;King Henry.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Derrick is just a phenomenal worker,&#8221; the GM said at the\u00a0NFL\u00a0Scouting Combine. &#8220;He&#8217;s a pro. 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 \u2013 he&#8217;s freakishly talented \u2013 his combination of size and speed.<\/p>\n<aside class=\"m-in-content-ad-row l-inline mm-in-content-ad-row--in-content not-size-a not-size-b not-size-d\" data-ad-group=\"in_content-2\">\n<div class=\"m-in-content-ad not-size-a not-size-b not-size-d\" data-ad-group=\"in_content-2\" data-zone-count=\"4\">\n<div class=\"not-size-a not-size-b not-size-d m-in-content-ad is-loaded\">\n<div id=\"ad-in_content-2896b61d21d3418e80a083b3e8b5021e\" data-google-query-id=\"CMCvw_3D_osDFUfrTAIdNH4r5Q\" data-ad-size=\"adhesion\">\n<div id=\"google_ads_iframe_\/88059007\/athlonsports.com\/nfl_7__container__\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" id=\"google_ads_iframe_\/88059007\/athlonsports.com\/nfl_7\" tabindex=\"0\" title=\"3rd party ad content\" src=\"https:\/\/762d571bbc101e7ec2547aa5ea95cd9c.safeframe.googlesyndication.com\/safeframe\/1-0-41\/html\/container.html\" name=\"\" width=\"1\" height=\"1\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" sandbox=\"allow-forms allow-popups allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox allow-same-origin allow-scripts allow-top-navigation-by-user-activation\" data-is-safeframe=\"true\" aria-label=\"Advertisement\" data-google-container-id=\"8\" data-load-complete=\"true\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<p>&#8220;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&#8217;re blessed to have him, and I would expect his successes last year to continue this year.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>The question facing\u00a0Baltimore\u00a0here is the same one every fantasy manager asks themselves on draft day. How long will Henry last? Every year is supposed to be the year he breaks down, the year the injuries take their toll, the year King Henry\u2019s reign ends.<\/p>\n<aside class=\"m-in-content-ad-row l-inline mm-in-content-ad-row--in-content not-size-a not-size-b not-size-d\" data-ad-group=\"in_content-3\">\n<div class=\"m-in-content-ad not-size-a not-size-b not-size-d\" data-ad-group=\"in_content-3\" data-zone-count=\"4\">\n<div class=\"not-size-a not-size-b not-size-d m-in-content-ad is-loaded\">\n<div id=\"ad-in_content-76a527d9569b45609cb2d993e72d42ae\" data-google-query-id=\"CMGvw_3D_osDFUfrTAIdNH4r5Q\" data-ad-size=\"adhesion\">\n<div id=\"google_ads_iframe_\/88059007\/athlonsports.com\/nfl_8__container__\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" id=\"google_ads_iframe_\/88059007\/athlonsports.com\/nfl_8\" tabindex=\"0\" title=\"3rd party ad content\" src=\"https:\/\/762d571bbc101e7ec2547aa5ea95cd9c.safeframe.googlesyndication.com\/safeframe\/1-0-41\/html\/container.html\" name=\"\" width=\"1\" height=\"1\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" sandbox=\"allow-forms allow-popups allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox allow-same-origin allow-scripts allow-top-navigation-by-user-activation\" data-is-safeframe=\"true\" aria-label=\"Advertisement\" data-google-container-id=\"9\" data-load-complete=\"true\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<p>And then, at age 31, he posts 1,921 yards and 16 touchdowns.<\/p>\n<p>Extending Henry might be difficult given the Ravens\u2019 lack of cap space. It would take some creative maneuvering, but it\u2019s hard to argue against the back deserving an extension &#8230; and that argument is now ongoing thanks to Saquon.<\/p>\n<div class=\"mm-embed-card--list\">\n<div class=\"m-card--media\"><a class=\"m-card--image-link\" tabindex=\"-1\" href=\"https:\/\/athlonsports.com\/nfl\/baltimore-ravens\/baltimore-ravens-expected-release-expensive-safety-marcus-williams-free-agency\" rel=\"\"><picture class=\"is-loaded\"><source srcset=\"https:\/\/athlonsports.com\/.image\/ar_16:9%2Cc_fill%2Ccs_srgb%2Cg_faces:center%2Cq_auto:good%2Cw_220\/MjEzMTU5NDgyNDUxMDQzNzkx\/usatsi_24303015.webp 220w, https:\/\/athlonsports.com\/.image\/ar_16:9%2Cc_fill%2Ccs_srgb%2Cg_faces:center%2Cq_auto:good%2Cw_320\/MjEzMTU5NDgyNDUxMDQzNzkx\/usatsi_24303015.webp 320w, https:\/\/athlonsports.com\/.image\/ar_16:9%2Cc_fill%2Ccs_srgb%2Cg_faces:center%2Cq_auto:good%2Cw_640\/MjEzMTU5NDgyNDUxMDQzNzkx\/usatsi_24303015.webp 640w\" type=\"image\/webp\" sizes=\"220px\" \/><source srcset=\"https:\/\/athlonsports.com\/.image\/ar_16:9%2Cc_fill%2Ccs_srgb%2Cg_faces:center%2Cq_auto:good%2Cw_220\/MjEzMTU5NDgyNDUxMDQzNzkx\/usatsi_24303015.jpg 220w, https:\/\/athlonsports.com\/.image\/ar_16:9%2Cc_fill%2Ccs_srgb%2Cfl_progressive%2Cg_faces:center%2Cq_auto:good%2Cw_320\/MjEzMTU5NDgyNDUxMDQzNzkx\/usatsi_24303015.jpg 320w, https:\/\/athlonsports.com\/.image\/ar_16:9%2Cc_fill%2Ccs_srgb%2Cfl_progressive%2Cg_faces:center%2Cq_auto:good%2Cw_640\/MjEzMTU5NDgyNDUxMDQzNzkx\/usatsi_24303015.jpg 640w\" sizes=\"220px\" \/><\/picture><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Philadelphia Eagles just extended the only back better from Derrick Henry\u2019s free agent class, Saquon Barkley. &#8230; and they did so rather voluntarily. How should the&#8230; <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-31867","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-nfl"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v23.8 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Derrick Henry vs. Saquon Barkley Debate Moves Ravens To Contract Hot Seat - 24\/7 News America<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/usatoday.azontree.com\/?p=31867\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Derrick Henry vs. Saquon Barkley Debate Moves Ravens To Contract Hot Seat - 24\/7 News America\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"The Philadelphia Eagles just extended the only back better from Derrick Henry\u2019s free agent class, Saquon Barkley. &#8230; and they did so rather voluntarily. How should the...\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/usatoday.azontree.com\/?p=31867\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"24\/7 News America\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2025-03-10T03:09:18+00:00\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Admin\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Admin\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"2 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/usatoday.azontree.com\/?p=31867\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/usatoday.azontree.com\/?p=31867\",\"name\":\"Derrick Henry vs. Saquon Barkley Debate Moves Ravens To Contract Hot Seat - 24\/7 News America\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/usatoday.azontree.com\/#website\"},\"datePublished\":\"2025-03-10T03:09:18+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-03-10T03:09:18+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/usatoday.azontree.com\/#\/schema\/person\/4fd584257b8aaef08c4e2bc73ee6a914\"},\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/usatoday.azontree.com\/?p=31867#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/usatoday.azontree.com\/?p=31867\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/usatoday.azontree.com\/?p=31867#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/usatoday.azontree.com\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Derrick Henry vs. Saquon Barkley Debate Moves Ravens To Contract Hot Seat\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/usatoday.azontree.com\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/usatoday.azontree.com\/\",\"name\":\"24\/7 News America\",\"description\":\"Breaking Stories, Real Insights&quot;\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/usatoday.azontree.com\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/usatoday.azontree.com\/#\/schema\/person\/4fd584257b8aaef08c4e2bc73ee6a914\",\"name\":\"Admin\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/usatoday.azontree.com\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/ab07af1f129ef9c67f3a58e6273eac4d8eb51a1cb066ea995eb6d5f03eceb61b?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/ab07af1f129ef9c67f3a58e6273eac4d8eb51a1cb066ea995eb6d5f03eceb61b?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"Admin\"},\"url\":\"https:\/\/usatoday.azontree.com\/?author=2\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Derrick Henry vs. Saquon Barkley Debate Moves Ravens To Contract Hot Seat - 24\/7 News America","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/usatoday.azontree.com\/?p=31867","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Derrick Henry vs. Saquon Barkley Debate Moves Ravens To Contract Hot Seat - 24\/7 News America","og_description":"The Philadelphia Eagles just extended the only back better from Derrick Henry\u2019s free agent class, Saquon Barkley. &#8230; and they did so rather voluntarily. How should the...","og_url":"https:\/\/usatoday.azontree.com\/?p=31867","og_site_name":"24\/7 News America","article_published_time":"2025-03-10T03:09:18+00:00","author":"Admin","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Admin","Est. reading time":"2 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/usatoday.azontree.com\/?p=31867","url":"https:\/\/usatoday.azontree.com\/?p=31867","name":"Derrick Henry vs. Saquon Barkley Debate Moves Ravens To Contract Hot Seat - 24\/7 News America","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/usatoday.azontree.com\/#website"},"datePublished":"2025-03-10T03:09:18+00:00","dateModified":"2025-03-10T03:09:18+00:00","author":{"@id":"https:\/\/usatoday.azontree.com\/#\/schema\/person\/4fd584257b8aaef08c4e2bc73ee6a914"},"breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/usatoday.azontree.com\/?p=31867#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/usatoday.azontree.com\/?p=31867"]}]},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/usatoday.azontree.com\/?p=31867#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/usatoday.azontree.com\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Derrick Henry vs. Saquon Barkley Debate Moves Ravens To Contract Hot Seat"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/usatoday.azontree.com\/#website","url":"https:\/\/usatoday.azontree.com\/","name":"24\/7 News America","description":"Breaking Stories, Real Insights&quot;","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/usatoday.azontree.com\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/usatoday.azontree.com\/#\/schema\/person\/4fd584257b8aaef08c4e2bc73ee6a914","name":"Admin","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/usatoday.azontree.com\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/ab07af1f129ef9c67f3a58e6273eac4d8eb51a1cb066ea995eb6d5f03eceb61b?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/ab07af1f129ef9c67f3a58e6273eac4d8eb51a1cb066ea995eb6d5f03eceb61b?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"Admin"},"url":"https:\/\/usatoday.azontree.com\/?author=2"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/usatoday.azontree.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/31867","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/usatoday.azontree.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/usatoday.azontree.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usatoday.azontree.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usatoday.azontree.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=31867"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/usatoday.azontree.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/31867\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":31874,"href":"https:\/\/usatoday.azontree.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/31867\/revisions\/31874"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/usatoday.azontree.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=31867"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usatoday.azontree.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=31867"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usatoday.azontree.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=31867"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}