Did Derrick Henry Sign With Ravens Because of Ex-Teammate Marlon Humphrey?

Former Alabama teammates running back Derrick Henry and cornerback Marlon Humphrey have shared different perspectives on how the Ravens landed the star rusher in free agency.

By Isaiah Deanda

Jan 11, 2020; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Tennessee Titans running back Derrick Henry (22) carries the
Jan 11, 2020; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Tennessee Titans running back Derrick Henry (22) carries the / Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

The Baltimore Ravens landed one of the biggest names in free agency when the organization signed future Hall of Famer Derrick Henry to be the team’s new starting running back.

Henry and his former Alabama teammate cornerback Marlon Humphrey have now shared different perspectives regarding the emotions they felt when Ravens’ manager Eric DeCosta landed the superstar.

How involved was Marlon Humphrey in helping land Derrick Henry?
How involved was Marlon Humphrey in helping land Derrick Henry? / Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

On an episode of The Pivot, Henry shared that DeCosta had been in contact with him during free agency, and the conversations felt “genuine” like the team “really wanted” him. In addition to being pursued in free agency, Henry was drawn to the team because of what happened around last year's trade deadline. 

Baltimore nearly landed King Henry during the season, and at that time, DeCosta had been in contact with Henry as the team was in talks to acquire him from the Tennessee Titans.

DeCosta’s pursuit of Henry at the trade deadline established the groundwork of a relationship so strong that he felt confident was strong enough to make the rusher a Raven without any help from Humphrey.

A free agency recap episode of Humphrey’s show, the Punch Line Podcast with Marlon Humphrey, revealed that the cornerback had a conversation with DeCosta in which he offered to help convince his former teammate to join the organization but was instead told to stay quiet. 

DeCosta said Humphrey shouldn’t talk to Henry about joining the team because he wanted the team’s interest to remain more low-key. Humphrey spoke with Henry “casually” while the running back was in Dallas, which made him think that he was considering joining the Dallas Cowboys, a team that Henry has since revealed didn’t make any effort to sign him. 

One day after speaking with Humphrey, it was reported that Henry would be signing a 2-year $16 million contract with Baltimore. Humorously, Humphrey said he felt a “slight betrayal” because it all happened so suddenly without him seeing the reunion coming the day prior because Henry never mentioned it. 

Regardless of how involved Humphrey was in helping land Henry, now the two will have the opportunity to do something on the professional level that they accomplished in their lone year at Alabama together: win a championship.

If Henry can help the Ravens win a Super Bowl in his first season, it’s safe to assume that jokes of betrayal will be a thing of the past because, as the expression goes, winning heals everything.