The Baltimore Ravens may be approaching a franchise-altering crossroads at quarterback. What would that mean for Derrick Henry and the offense built around him?
The Baltimore Ravens could be staring at one of the biggest decisions in franchise history. The idea that quarterback Lamar Jackson
has played his last game in a Ravens uniform is no longer something that anyone can wave off, and it has massive ripple effects for running back Derrick Henry
.
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To be clear, this is a hypothetical. There is no reported team decision on Jackson. I discussed it with Austin Stanley
and Easton Freeze
on the latest episode of 13 Personnel, and I came away believing the answer to the big question is trending toward yes.
I never thought I would say that until recently.
Why the Lamar Jackson question feels different now
A lot has changed in Baltimore over the last year. John Harbaugh
left last offseason, and the new regime led by Jesse Minter
is pushing toward the next iteration of this franchise. You can throw offensive coordinator Declan Doyle
, another young voice, into that conversation as well.
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When you have Jackson, he is supposed to be the centerpiece of that next iteration. If he isn't, where does Baltimore go from here?
One option is the veteran route. The Ravens could take a swing at an established quarterback who also needs a fresh change of scenery, someone in the mold of a Justin Herbert
. I don't know exactly what the answer is. It just feels like a harsh reality could be coming, and it would usher in a brand-new era built around Minter and Doyle.
Freeze made a strong point on the show. Jackson is in the tier of quarterback you are never supposed to let walk.
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Franchises keep players like Tom Brady and Drew Brees until everyone can agree the run was great and the team got nearly every last drop out of that talent. Freeze also pointed out that Jackson has developed into one of the best pure pocket passers in the league. That kind of evolution usually helps a player age well.
The problem is availability. Jackson's first injury this year came as a result of his playing style. The second was a freak thumb injury on his throwing hand, the kind that can happen to any quarterback. Either way, the result is the same. He hasn't been on the field.
Derrick Henry's future is tied to Lamar Jackson
Here's the thing about this situation. Everything in Baltimore is built around Jackson, as it should be with a franchise quarterback. If the Ravens decide they have pushed this as far as it can go, the next conversation is about Henry.
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He is nearing the twilight of his career. The reason he came to Baltimore in the first place was to be one of the final pieces to get this team over the hump.
Henry has aged like a fine wine. Part of that is genetics, because nobody looks, runs, or moves like him. But it is also a symbiotic relationship with Jackson. Defenses are still terrified of what Jackson brings to the table, and that means smaller boxes and easier lanes for the running back.
So does Henry want to be part of the next version of this offense? If Jackson isn't the quarterback, those boxes are about to get a whole lot more crowded.
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Stanley offered the other side of it. Henry is still under contract, and if Baltimore finds a path forward without Jackson, keeping Henry next to the new quarterback could make the transition easier from both a football standpoint and a business standpoint.
What a Ravens reset could look like
The draft is part of this conversation too. With Jackson likely on the shelf the rest of the way, the Ravens could be picking somewhere in the middle of the first round. Stanley noted that this year's quarterbacks probably won't go at the very top of the draft.
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They are more likely to come off the board somewhere in the 11th to 15th pick range, which is right where Baltimore could land.
Trinidad Chambliss (Ole Miss)
would be an intriguing fit. But are you convinced your winning window stays open going from Jackson to Chambliss? No disrespect to Chambliss, but that's my whole point.
Baltimore has to decide what this would actually be. Is it a plug-and-play quarterback swap with the window still open? A slight rebrand? A complete teardown? The answer determines whether Henry stays or goes.
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If you ask me, the Ravens need to have a deep conversation before making any move away from Jackson. We will see how things play out, but this is a decision that will shape the franchise for years.
This article was originally published on A to Z Sports. Read the full story here: Ravens face a harsh Derrick Henry question that nobody wants to answer if the Lamar Jackson era is nearing an end
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