Derrick Henry falls in NFL Top 100 for third straight year despite strong 2023 season

The NFL Top 100 Players of 2024 countdown continued on Friday and the third Baltimore Raven to be recognized as one of the best among their peers is running back Derrick Henry at No. 49.

While this marked the four-time Pro Bowler’s sixth straight year being voted to the list, it marked his third straight year dropping by double figures and first time ranking outside of the top 30 since he debuted at No. 99 following the 2018 season. Last year, Henry came in at No. 25 after recording the third-most rushing yards of his career and second-most in the league. His highest ever ranking on the list was No. 4 following the 2020 season when he not only led the league in rushing but nearly broke the single-season rushing record.

Despite finishing second in the NFL in rushing yards (1,167) and first in carries (280) for the second year in a row behind arguably the worst offensive line in the league and certainly of his illustrious career, the two-time league rushing champion barely cracked the top 50.

In his final season with the Tennessee Titans, Henry showed that he is still every bit of a devastating physical and explosive home-run threat as ever. His highlights are still littered with nasty stiff arms, a litany of broken tackles and his top speed reached of 21.68 miles per hour was the seventh-fastest by a ball carrier all last season according to Next Gen Stats.

Against the Ravens over in London, England in Week 6, he nearly made a 60-plus yard house call and even though safety Marcus Williams was finally able to get him down by the ankles before he could hit paydirt on that drive, it showed how much a big-play threat he still can be at this stage of his career.

Even though he turned 30 this past January before last season was over, Henry has shown no signs of decline and scoffs at the notion that the proverbial cliff in terms of production, durability and efficiency that typically comes for most running backs at or around that age doesn’t apply to him.

“I don’t really try to worry about that,” Henry said this past Monday. “It’s kind of funny. Since high school, I probably got 56 carries in a game, 57 the next week. College [at Alabama] 44, 46. NFL, 30-35. I really think it’s just your mindset, how you take care of your body. If it works and you feel good, just keep working and doing what you do.”

Henry joins defensive tackle Justin Madubuike and safety Kyle Hamilton who came in at No. 61 and No. 43, respectfully, as the only current Ravens to be revealed thus far. This likely leaves inside linebacker Roquan Smith and reigning MVP quarterback Lamar Jackson as the last two remaining unless tight end Mark Andrews or center Tyler Linderbaum make the list although it’s unlikely either will be ranked higher than Hamilton given the stellar season he had.