It’s officially trade season in the NFL, and the resurgent New England Patriots have a need. Is superstar running back Derrick Henry of all people the solution to their problem?
On the surface, it might sound a little crazy, but with the Patriots’ running back room suddenly thin with the season-ending injury to Antonio Gibson, and the Ravens’ season potentially on life support, it’s an interesting idea to say the least.
It’s one Boston Herald beat reporter Doug Kyed entertained in his weekly mailbag.
“It depends on how the Ravens look by the NFL trade deadline, which falls after Week 9, but I would be a little bit surprised if they give up on the season,” Kyed wrote for the Herald on Oct. 8. “The Ravens did just trade Odafe Oweh to the Chargers, but they were able to get Alohi Gilman back.
“Obviously, there’s a connection there with Henry and Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel, who coached him in Tennessee. But there’s also a question of whether Henry would be an upgrade. It’s too early to write him off, but he’s averaging just 3.2 yards per carry since Week 1, when he had 169 yards on just 18 carries.”
Is Derrick Henry Realistic Option for Patriots?
To be fair, Kyed isn’t exactly suggesting it’s something the Patriots would or should entertain. He was just answering a question about the running back void, saying he got plenty of questions about the possibility of trading for Henry, Alvin Kamara or potentially bringing back Ezekiel Elliott.
Additionally, as Kyed notes, Baltimore hasn’t given any sort of indication it’s ready to sell off pieces. The Oweh trade, while surprising, did at least address an area of need with a depleted secondary, so it’s not exactly the waving of a white flag. The Ravens, despite a 1-4 record and a historically bad home loss to Houston in Week 5, does still have hopes to contend. The AFC North and the conference in general are wide open, especially if Lamar Jackson returns soon.
If he doesn’t, though, or even worse, his return doesn’t fix the Ravens’ issues, then perhaps trading Henry becomes slightly more likely.
Kyed was also right to point out that Henry just hasn’t been productive in 2025. His usage rate, especially on early downs, is lower than what it probably should be, and his early-season fumbling problem has directly contributed to Ravens losses.
The hope for a team potentially trading for Henry is that a change of scenery and system might do him some good. In New England, he could round out a three-pronged rushing attack alongside Rhamondre Stevenson and TreVeyon Henderson, although he doesn’t address New England’s potential need for a pass-catching back in Gibson’s absence.
Reunion With Mike Vrabel Could Spark Henry Turnaround
And not everyone is ready to give up on Henry yet.
“Henry is still averaging 3.73 yards after contact and still has speed to run away in space,” Kevin Patra wrote for NFL.com ahead of Week 4. “His five runs of 15-plus yards are tied for first through three games, per PFF. I’m more concerned with the Ravens forgetting about Henry for stretches, like Monday’s two-carry third quarter.”
Patra added: “The King has been questioned in the past. Remember last year, when he opened the season a bit slowly, and many were fretting about his age and carry history, then he romped over defenses for 1,921 yards? I still believe the maniacal competitor is closer to that than washed because of a few fumbles.”
One person who probably wouldn’t mind seeing it happen is Vrabel, who coached him during their time together in Tennessee.
“Our best player was our running back, as you can see in Baltimore,” Vrabel said in January on WEEI after being hired, referring to Henry.
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