The New England Patriots may have an opportunity to add one of the NFL’s most accomplished running backs, and the Baltimore Ravens‘ rapidly deteriorating season could make that possibility more realistic by the day.

According to A to Z Sports, the Patriots and New York Giants have expressed interest in acquiring Derrick Henry ahead of Tuesday’s NFL trade deadline.

Both potential destinations offer familiar faces. Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel coached Henry with the Tennessee Titans, while Giants head coach John Harbaugh coached him in Baltimore.

The report comes at a critical moment for the Ravens, who have lost four consecutive games and may be facing the remainder of the season without franchise quarterback Lamar Jackson.

Baltimore’s 33-10 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars on Thursday night was its second consecutive blowout defeat, following a 36-10 loss to the Buffalo Bills on Sunday. The Ravens are now 4-5, and the possibility of salvaging their season is becoming increasingly remote.

For the Patriots, the question is whether Henry could help push a playoff contender closer to a championship. For Baltimore, the decision may be considerably more consequential: Is it time to start building toward 2027?

Ravens’ Quarterback Crisis Changes Everything

Baltimore entered the season expecting to compete for an AFC championship. Instead, the Ravens are confronting a quarterback crisis that threatens to derail those expectations.

Jackson suffered a right thumb injury against Buffalo that will require surgery. The Ravens placed the two-time NFL MVP on injured reserve Thursday, guaranteeing he will miss at least four games. Head coach Jesse Minter has acknowledged that Jackson could miss the remainder of the season, although no final determination has been announced.

Backup quarterback Tyler Huntley also landed on injured reserve with a toe injury that reportedly could end his season.

The Ravens responded by moving toward a trade for Arizona Cardinals quarterback Jacoby Brissett, according to NFL Network and ESPN.

The acquisition was intended to give Baltimore an experienced quarterback capable of keeping the team competitive while Jackson recovered. Brissett started eight games for Arizona this season, throwing for 1,719 yards and 10 touchdowns.

But Baltimore’s latest loss demonstrated just how difficult that assignment could become.

Undrafted rookie Joe Fagnano made his first NFL start Thursday against Jacksonville, completing 10 of 18 passes for just 60 yards with two interceptions. The Ravens managed only 227 yards of total offense.

Henry rushed for 57 yards, moving into seventh place on the NFL’s all-time rushing list with 13,707 yards.

Brissett is expected to join Baltimore in time for its next game, but even an experienced veteran faces a difficult challenge taking over an unfamiliar offense in the middle of a losing streak. The Ravens have now been outscored 84-10 in the second half during their four-game skid. Their problems extend well beyond the quarterback position.

That leaves general manager Eric DeCosta facing a decision that could shape the franchise’s immediate future. Does Baltimore continue investing resources in a season that appears to be slipping away, or does it begin converting valuable veteran assets into draft capital and financial flexibility for 2027?

Henry could be among the most attractive players available if the Ravens choose the latter approach.

Why Derrick Henry Makes Sense for the Patriots

Henry’s relationship with Vrabel is an obvious starting point.

The two spent six seasons together in Tennessee, where Henry developed into one of the most dominant running backs of his generation. He led the NFL in rushing in 2019 and 2020, surpassing 2,000 yards during the latter season.

Vrabel understands how to build an offense around Henry’s physical running style, and Henry knows what his former coach expects. The Patriots also have several former Titans, including A.J. Brown, Kevin Byard and Harold Landry, providing additional familiarity should a reunion materialize.

More importantly, Henry could give New England a proven rushing threat to complement quarterback Drake Maye.

The Patriots have relied on Rhamondre Stevenson and TreVeyon Henderson in their backfield, but neither has consistently established the kind of physical presence Henry could provide. Adding Henry would give New England another way to control games, particularly in December and January, when weather conditions and postseason pressure can make a reliable running game especially valuable.

It could also reduce the burden on Maye, who remains the centerpiece of New England’s offense.

Still, acquiring Henry would not come without complications. The Patriots have already invested in their backfield, and surrendering meaningful draft capital for a running back approaching his 33rd birthday would carry substantial risk.

The move would have to be evaluated as an opportunity to improve the team’s championship chances immediately, not simply an attempt to acquire another recognizable name.

Baltimore Has a Narrow Window to Maximize Henry’s Value

Henry turns 33 in January, and while he continues to defy the usual expectations for aging running backs, his trade value is unlikely to improve with time.

His contract could make him particularly attractive to interested teams.

As detailed by A to Z Sports, Henry’s 2026 base salary is approximately $1.25 million, with much of his compensation already paid through bonuses. An acquiring team would reportedly be responsible for roughly $600,000 in remaining salary.

His 2027 compensation includes approximately $12 million in non-guaranteed money, potentially giving an acquiring team flexibility beyond this season. That structure could allow a contender to acquire Henry without taking on an enormous immediate financial obligation.

For Baltimore, the benefit would be different.

Trading Henry would create an opportunity to recover draft capital for a veteran whose remaining prime years may not align with the Ravens’ immediate competitive outlook.

It would also represent an acknowledgment that the organization needs to reassess its direction following a disappointing season and Jackson’s latest injury. Such a decision would be difficult for a franchise that entered the year with championship expectations, but maintaining the status quo carries risks of its own.

The Ravens must consider whether keeping Henry for the final portion of a potentially lost season provides more value than the assets they could receive in return.

Patriots Could Face Competition From the Giants

New England is not alone in its reported interest.

The Giants, coached by Harbaugh, also have an established relationship with Henry and could offer another opportunity for the veteran running back to join a familiar coaching staff.

Harbaugh coached Henry during the running back’s first two seasons in Baltimore before becoming the Giants’ head coach. The competition could complicate negotiations, particularly if Baltimore receives multiple offers before the November 10 deadline.

Neither the Patriots nor Giants have publicly confirmed negotiations for Henry, and the Ravens have not announced that he is available.

For now, the reported interest is just that — interest.

But Baltimore’s circumstances have changed dramatically over the past week, and another lopsided defeat has made the possibility of significant roster moves more difficult to dismiss.

The Patriots, meanwhile, have a chance to improve a team that is already positioned to compete in the AFC.

Whether Henry is the right addition will depend on Baltimore’s asking price and New England’s willingness to commit resources to an aging but still productive running back.

For the Ravens, the stakes may be even higher.

With Jackson’s status uncertain and the team’s playoff hopes fading, DeCosta must decide whether preserving the current roster is worth sacrificing an opportunity to strengthen the franchise for 2027.

Derrick Henry could become one of the first major tests of that decision.