New York Giants Must Avoid Massive Derrick Henry Trap

The New York Giants are big-game hunting before the NFL trade deadline, and apparently, they have expressed interest in Baltimore Ravens running back Derrick Henry.

With the Ravens' season being completely subverted by Lamar Jackson's injuries, Baltimore could make Henry available before Nov. 10, and considering John Harbaugh coached him for two years, the Giants' interest makes sense.

But would it actually be advisable for New York?

Henry is 32 years old is under contract through the end of 2027. He carries a light $5.6 million cap hit this season, but that number balloons to $16.3 million next year.

And if you haven't noticed, Henry already appears to be in decline.

Yes, the five-time Pro Bowler has rushed for 632 yards and eight touchdowns through eight games, but he is averaging just four yards per carry. That's a career low.

While it looked like Henry was declining during his final season with the Tennessee Titans in 2023, only for him to bounce back with a vengeance over his next two campaigns in Baltimore, this seems different.

Henry has a ton of mileage, and 32 looks a whole lot more intimidating than 29. Not to mention the fact that Henry will turn 33 in early January.

Do the Giants really want to surrender valuable capital for a deteriorating running back in his 30s when they clearly are not ready to win a Super Bowl right now?

If Jaxson Dart and Brian Burns were healthy, perhaps my answer would be different. But both are out for the season, and while J.J. McCarthy looked good last week, we still have no clue if he is any sort of an answer.

I understand that Harbaugh loves the ground game, but he also needs to keep the long view in mind. The 2027 draft class is slated to be teeming with running back talent, so New York can always just select a halfback then.

Trading picks for Henry at this stage of his career would be a mistake, and while it would make the Giants better this year, it still would not make them championship contenders. If he couldn't lead Baltimore to a Super Bowl in 2024 or 2025, why should we expect things to be any different with New York here in 2026?

As for next season? It stands to reason that the cliff is rapidly approaching for Henry, who could very well be hanging on by a thread.

This is a player who has led the NFL in carries four times in his career and is on pace to do so again this season. He also racked up over 300 rushing attempts in each of his first two campaigns with the Ravens.

Henry is on a downturn, and the Giants should not be the team to bail Baltimore out of it.