Derrick Henry feels right at home with Ravens: ‘This is where I knew I wanted to be’ (2024)

Robert Mays and Nate Tice break down all the action on day four of the NFL free-agency period in 2024. They discuss Calvin Ridley to the Titans, Sheldon Rankins to the Bengals, approaches they've liked and disliked, and more.

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Derrick Henry all but ended the 2019 Baltimore Ravens’ Super Bowl hopes by himself. The Tennessee Titans’ defense certainly did its job in limiting the mistake-prone Ravens. Titans quarterback Ryan Tannehill didn’t turn the ball over. But it was Henry who set the tone in Tennessee’s 28-12 victory over the top-seeded Ravens in the AFC divisional round.

He rushed 30 times for 195 yards, using Ravens safety Earl Thomas as a blocking sled on one of those carries. He caught two passes. He even threw a touchdown pass. Henry bullied a Ravens defense that was used to delivering the abuse, not absorbing it.

By the time the Titans left Baltimore on that January 2020 night, the humbled Ravens had seen more than enough of Henry. The last thing they wanted was an omnipresent reminder of that gut-wrenching loss two weeks later.

In an interview with Seattle Sports radio Thursday, general manager John Schneider said Seattle was “working to address” the linebacker position after losing Jordyn Brooks and Bobby Wagner in free agency. An hour later, Seattle reportedly agreed to terms with free-agent linebacker Tyrel Dodson.

Dodson appeared in all 17 regular-season games and made 10 starts for the Buffalo Bills last season. He turns 26 in June. He had 74 total tackles along with 2.5 sacks, seven additional tackles for loss, six run stuffs (tackle for no gain), a pair of pass breakups and a forced fumble in 2023. For now he’ll be Seattle’s only inside linebacker with in-game experience on defense. The other linebackers under contract are Patrick O’Connell, Jon Rhattigan and Drake Thomas.

The Washington Commanders and Seattle Seahawks have completed a trade that sends quarterback Sam Howell to Seattle. Washington also traded fourth- and sixth-round picks to Seattle and received a third- and a fifth-rounders.

Why they did the deal

Washington is starting fresh at quarterback while holding the second overall pick in the upcoming NFL Draft. Howell showed flashes last season, his second out of North Carolina. But the fifth-rounder also struggled with consistency. New GM Adam Peters and new coach Dan Quinn prefer to pair their eventual rookie quarterback with a more seasoned veteran and signed Marcus Mariota earlier this week.

Seattle, meanwhile, needed depth at quarterback after Geno Smith’s backup, Drew Lock, left for the New York Giants via free agency.

Newly hired Detroit Lions defensive line coach Terrell Williams, one of the more respected coaches at his position, recently discussed his requirements when looking for defensive tackles. It all starts with violence.

“You have to accept that’s just what that position is,” Williams said at the NFL Scouting Combine last month. “It’s a violent, high-collision position, and you’ve gotta play with effort. And if you can’t do that, you’re gonna have a hard time playing.”

New Lions defensive tackle D.J. Reader, a physical presence in the interior, fits that description to a T. It’s a big part of why he was added to a core that’s ready to win.

Reader and the Lions agreed to a two-year deal Thursday, per multiple reports, following an in-person visit with the team in Detroit. The former Cincinnati Bengals nose tackle is about as consistent as they come in stopping the run and clogging lanes. He represents the biggest splash the Lions have made so far in free agency and a player who can help others around him when healthy.

The Cowboys re-signed cornerback Jourdan Lewis on Thursday, which gives them a formidable starting trio in the defensive backfield. DaRon Bland, who had a breakout season in 2023, leading the NFL in interceptions and setting the all-time record in pick-6s, is expected to start on the outside on one end. Trevon Diggs, who suffered a torn ACL in practice prior to Week 3, is expected to hold down the other end on the perimeter. That would put Lewis in a position to be the starting nickel cornerback in the slot.

Lewis rebounded from a career-threatening injury in 2022 to play a big role in 2023 after Diggs went down. He forced three fumbles last season and had an interception. The Cowboys could still add to their cornerback group, potentially by re-signing Stephon Gilmore. In that case, Lewis would be a valuable depth piece, which is important, as last season showed. Diggs was lost early in the season to injury and Gilmore got hurt towards the end. Lewis re-signing gives the Cowboys solid footing for the rest of free agency and entering the draft.

On Christian Wilkins’ first day at Las Vegas Raiders team headquarters, his biggest takeaway was a simple message: Be yourself. The edict that has been instilled by coach Antonio Pierce since he took over as interim coach midway through the 2023 season isn’t necessarily unique, but it’s real. And it’s felt as soon as one steps into the building.

Wilkins has a boisterous personality. He has earned a reputation as a relentless trash talker on the field and a constant joker in the locker room. He’s a spontaneous guy who’ll do anything from a celebratory split to resorting to underhanded tactics in fumble scrums to get his hands on the football. Although Wilkins hadn’t yet experienced it firsthand, he was drawn to the Raiders by the opportunity to stay true to himself.

Former Commanders WR Curtis Samuel has agreed with the Buffalo Bills on a three-year deal, according to a team source.

According to multiple reports, the deal is for $24 million and worth up to $30 million, including $15 million guaranteed.

Saquon Barkley spoke with the media for the first time in Philadelphia on Thursday. He officially signed a three-year, $37.75 million contract with the Eagles, including $26 million guaranteed.

It’s the most money the Eagles have dedicated to a running back in franchise history. Only LeSean McCoy ($9 million annually) and DeMarco Murray ($8 million) signed contracts that came close to the $12.6 million average Barkley will be due through the 2026 season.

General manager Howie Roseman decided Barkley is exceptional. The New York Giants’ No. 2 overall pick in 2018 ranked No. 2 on The Athletic’s list of top free agents this cycle. He now provides coach Nick Sirianni and offensive coordinator Kellen Moore with one of the NFL’s best all-around backs. They’ll spend the offseason with the enviable task of concocting an offensive scheme around Barkley, Jalen Hurts, A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith.

Still big, athletic and skilled physically, Armstead played only 32 percent of the 49ers’ total defensive snaps in 2022 and 46 percent in 2023, mostly due to injury. The return on investment just has not been there when you do the math on his contract and production. He has played more than 800 snaps in a season only once in his nine-year career. But if we look at the glass being half full, Armstead has a rare frame with the length to play three-, five- and seven-technique.

That alignment versatility is a big plus. He has the quickness and burst to get upfield as a pass rusher. He can produce interior pressure, whether beating guards or using power and length to distort the vision of the QB. In a nutshell, we just need to see it more. There is potential that has yet to be developed here.

The Seattle Seahawks are acquiring quarterback Sam Howell via a trade with the Washington Commanders, a league source confirmed to The Athletic.

The Commanders are sending Howell and fourth- and sixth-round picks (Nos. 102 and 179) to Seattle in exchange for third- and fifth-round selections (Nos. 78 and 152). Essentially, Seattle will get its replacement for departed backup Drew Lock in exchange for moving 24 spots back from the third round to the fourth and 27 spots back from the fifth round to the sixth.

The Commanders selected Howell in the fifth round of the 2022 NFL Draft. After serving as a backup for his rookie season, Howell started all 17 games in 2023 and passed for 3,946 yards and 21 touchdowns but also threw a league-high 21 interceptions.

Howell joins a Seahawks team that will be led by new head coach Mike Macdonald.

The Commanders now head into the 2024 season without their top two quarterbacks from last year, as backup Jacoby Brissett signed with the New England Patriots this week. Marcus Mariota joined Washington this week, and the team also could draft a QB with the No. 2 pick in April.

The Atlanta Falcons traded quarterback Desmond Ridder to the Arizona Cardinals for wide receiver Rondale Moore.

Why they made the move

The Falcons signed quarterback Kirk Cousins this week to a four-year, $180 million contract to finalize a long-expected transition at the position. Cousins is expected to be the starter in Atlanta for the foreseeable future.

Ridder, a third-round pick in 2022, was benched last season and no longer had a future with the Falcons. Keeping him as a backup wouldn’t have been in the best interest of the team or player.

2024 NFL free-agency tracker: From Danielle Hunter to Jamal Adams, see where top 150 players land

So turning Ridder into a rotational receiver feels like a win. The Falcons already brought Cousins into an advantageous offense with running back Bijan Robinson, wide receiver Drake London and tight end Kyle Pitts, and they’ve added Moore and wideout Darnell Mooney this week. They’re doing everything possible to help Cousins succeed.

Moore, a second-rounder in 2021, is entering the final year of his rookie contract and has 135 receptions for 1,201 yards and three touchdowns in his career. His numbers have declined each season, though, so it’s clear general manager Monti Ossenfort and coach Jonathan Gannon wanted to go in a new direction at receiver in their second season.

With quarterback Kyler Murray’s injury history, the Cardinals need to have depth at the position, and they were scrambling on the backup front until Murray debuted in 2023. They’re clearly hoping Ridder can be revitalized with a restart.

The Jets have always been open to bringing back wide receiver Corey Davis after he left the team in training camp and retired. Now, as reported by ESPN, Davis is applying for reinstatement to the NFL and the Jets are expected to release him off the reserve/retired list, making him a free agent. Davis signed a three-year, $37.5 million contract in 2021 and became a valued leader and locker room presence but injuries kept him from living up to that contract.

Davis missed 12 games over two years before leaving during camp last year. He still could return to the Jets — they have a need at wide receiver — though as of now it seems unlikely he'd return with Allen Lazard still around. Lazard took a lot of his snaps in training camp last year.

The Commanders are trading quarterback Sam Howell to the Seahawks, a league source confirms.

The Seahawks will also receive a fourth-round pick (No. 102) and a sixth (No. 179).

The Commanders will get a third (No. 78) and a fifth (No. 152).

Former San Francisco 49ers defensive tackle Arik Armstead and the Jacksonville Jaguars have agreed to a deal, a league source confirmed.

Armstead was our top available free agent.

Randy Mueller's scouting report

When he’s on the field and playing hard, Armstead is very productive. He’s a big man with great agility and balance for his size, making him dangerous as a one-on-one pass rusher, even if his style is more finesse than power. He can be disruptive in the run game, too, shedding blocks, getting upfield penetration and showing tackle-to-tackle range, though he’s not the factor in pursuit that he once was. The downside is he turns 31 in November, and over the last two seasons, he’s missed 13 games while — even when healthy — playing a smaller share of the snaps than he had since the 2016 season.

The Atlanta Falcons are trading former starting quarterback Desmond Ridder to the Arizona Cardinals for wide receiver Rondale Moore, according to team sources. The deal abruptly ends what the team’s previous coaching staff had hoped might be a long-term answer at the position.

Ridder was selected with the 74th pick of the 2022 draft and took over the Falcons’ starting job from Marcus Mariota with four games left in his rookie season. Atlanta spent last offseason building up the defense and adding offensive pieces around Ridder in hopes he could provide stability at the position on a rookie contract.

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