The Baltimore Ravens have reached the point where an uncomfortable question has become reasonable.

After Thursday night’s 33-10 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars, Baltimore is 4-5, riding a four-game losing streak, and sitting two and a half games behind the AFC North lead. Lamar Jackson is on injured reserve with a thumb injury, and while a late-season return hasn’t been ruled out, the Ravens have no guarantee that their franchise quarterback will play again in 2026.

That should force Baltimore to consider becoming a seller before Tuesday’s trade deadline. Derrick Henry is the most obvious name to discuss.

The case for moving Henry isn’t that he can no longer play. It’s that the Ravens may have an opportunity to turn a 32-year-old running back into draft capital while giving him a chance to join a contender for the stretch run.

Why Trading Derrick Henry Makes Sense for the Ravens

Henry’s production has suffered along with the rest of Baltimore’s offense.

Over the past four games, Henry has carried the ball 62 times for 213 yards, an average of 3.4 yards per attempt, with one rushing touchdown. He hasn’t topped 60 rushing yards in any of those games.

Thursday was another example. Henry carried 17 times for 57 yards as Baltimore struggled to generate anything consistently with Joe Fagnano making his first NFL start.

Volume hasn’t completely disappeared. Efficiency and scoring opportunities have.

Henry’s game has always benefited from an offense that can keep defenses honest and create favorable scripts. When Jackson is threatening the edge as a runner and punishing defenses through the air, opponents can’t devote everything to stopping Henry between the tackles.

That environment hasn’t existed recently.

Baltimore has repeatedly fallen behind, its quarterback play has cratered, and Henry has had to run into defenses with little reason to respect the passing game. The Ravens even increased their Wildcat usage against Jacksonville because they were searching for any way to manufacture a numerical advantage in the running game.

Henry didn’t ask to leave after the loss. When questioned about his future, he instead emphasized going back to work and trying to turn the season around.

That doesn’t mean Baltimore shouldn’t explore its options.

Henry turns 33 in January and is under contract through 2027. Running backs at that age rarely retain meaningful trade value for long. If a contender is willing to send Baltimore a useful Day 3 pick or a package of later selections, the Ravens at least have to listen.

From Henry’s perspective, the appeal is obvious. He has spent his career as one of the defining running backs of his generation but still hasn’t won a Super Bowl. A trade could put him back into meaningful January football rather than asking him to spend the rest of 2026 carrying a compromised Baltimore offense.

Derrick Henry’s Contract Shouldn’t Prevent a Trade

Henry’s contract is more movable than the headline numbers might suggest.

He signed a two-year extension in 2025 that keeps him under contract through the 2027 season. An acquiring team would take on his remaining salary obligations, including $12 million in scheduled 2027 cash if the deal isn’t reworked, while Baltimore would retain the cap consequences tied to bonus money it has already paid.

That still isn’t a small commitment for an aging running back, but a team trading for Henry would primarily be doing so because it believes he can materially improve its chances this season.

The draft compensation should reflect that.

A third-round pick would feel aggressive for a running back approaching 33. An early Day 3 selection, two later picks, or some combination in that range makes more sense.

Two NFC North contenders stand out as teams with both the need and enough draft flexibility to make a deal realistic.

1. Minnesota Vikings

Minnesota may be the cleanest fit.

The Vikings have built their success around an elite defense, protecting the football, and controlling games rather than asking the offense to win weekly shootouts. Henry fits that identity.

Aaron Jones has handled 110 carries for 458 yards this season, but his recent workload has declined and he has dealt with the normal wear associated with an older running back. Jordan Mason has 147 yards on 38 carries and hasn’t taken over the backfield in a way that would prevent Minnesota from considering an upgrade.

Henry would give the Vikings a more imposing early-down and short-yardage option. He would also allow Minnesota to play even more aggressively toward its preferred formula: let the defense create favorable situations, protect the quarterback, and force opponents to tackle Henry repeatedly in the fourth quarter.

The offensive line isn’t perfect, especially inside, so Henry wouldn’t suddenly be walking into an effortless rushing environment. The difference would be the surrounding team.

Minnesota is trying to win now.

The Vikings also have the draft capital to negotiate. They currently own two third-round picks and three fifth-round selections in the 2027 NFL Draft, giving them several avenues to construct a package without touching their premium picks.

I wouldn’t want Minnesota paying one of those third-rounders unless the market became unexpectedly aggressive. One of the fifths, or a combination built around Day 3 capital, would make considerably more sense.

For Henry, Minnesota would provide exactly what Baltimore currently cannot: a legitimate contender whose defense and game scripts would create opportunities for him to close games.

2. Green Bay Packers

Green Bay makes sense for a different reason.

The Packers haven’t found the offensive balance they expected from their running game. Josh Jacobs has returned to the lineup but has carried 32 times for only 75 yards, averaging 2.3 yards per attempt.

Green Bay’s offense is being driven much more effectively through Jordan Love and the passing game.

That could actually work in Henry’s favor.

Defenses have to respect Love, Christian Watson, Matthew Golden, and the Packers’ vertical passing ability. Henry would benefit from joining an offense where opponents cannot simply crowd the line of scrimmage and dare the quarterback to beat them.

Green Bay’s offensive line has had its own inconsistencies, so this isn’t purely a matter of replacing one running back and expecting the rushing offense to transform overnight. Henry would still offer a physical dimension the Packers haven’t consistently produced.

The draft-capital situation is workable as well.

Green Bay doesn’t own its 2027 first-round pick, but it does have its own third-rounder and two fourth-round selections, including one acquired from Dallas. The Packers are also projected to receive additional compensatory picks, though those won’t become official until later.

That gives general manager Brian Gutekunst enough mid-round flexibility to call Baltimore without compromising the top of Green Bay’s draft.

A fourth-rounder would be a much more reasonable starting point than a third. If Baltimore wants multiple selections, Green Bay has enough Day 3 inventory to construct that type of deal.

Other Derrick Henry Trade Fits Are Less Convincing

The New York Giants are an interesting name because they’re leading the NFC East and have dealt with instability in their backfield.

Cam Skattebo has emerged but is currently working through a hamstring injury, while New York has cycled through multiple running backs this season. Henry would give the Giants a proven closer for a team suddenly playing meaningful football.

The problem is cost. New York doesn’t have the same convenient collection of mid-round picks as Minnesota, making it harder to find a price that works for both sides without the Giants overpaying.

Cincinnati has also been floated as a potential destination, but an intra-division trade is difficult to envision. The Bengals are directly competing with Baltimore in the AFC North, and helping Cincinnati improve its offense would work against whatever slim playoff path the Ravens still have.

New England has a logical connection because of Mike Vrabel’s history with Henry in Tennessee.

The Patriots don’t have the same clear need, though. Rhamondre Stevenson has played well enough, and the backfield has other options capable of handling rotational work. Spending draft capital on another veteran runner would be harder to justify than it would for Minnesota or Green Bay.

Those teams could call. The Vikings and Packers are the two situations where the football fit, competitive timeline, and available compensation line up most naturally.