OTL: Henry-to-Ravens Akin to Shaq-to-Lakers?

Yesterday, we discussed potential additions to the running back room to bolster depth. While that’s important, as we know all too well, it kind of buries the lede when it comes to the Baltimore ground game.

All of Ravens Flock is pumped to watch Derrick Henry in purple and black after he tormented us for so many seasons as a member of the Tennessee Titans.

You can also count Akbar Gbajabiamila among that group. The analyst was on NFL Network and said that the addition of King Henry, “is equivalent to when the Los Angeles Lakers brought in Shaquille O’Neal to help out Kobe Bryant.”

Will @KingHenry_2 push the @Ravens to the top? @Akbar_Gbaja @gmfb pic.twitter.com/Ot7IH59BLg

— NFL (@NFL) July 30, 2024

(First off, I can’t resist any reference to The Big Aristotle. I love that dude.)

Now, the comparison falls apart a bit upon examination. Kobe’s rookie season was 1996, which was also Diesel’s first in Los Angeles. Lamar Jackson is entering year seven. Also, as Dev notes below, Derrick Henry in 2024 isn’t exactly Shaq in 1996.

Honestly the only analyst I’ve seen to this point who gives this move the proper weight. I won’t go as far as Shaq to the Lakers because that was prime Shaq.

But I can respect the analogy. Henry is 1 of 1. Even if you only get his major impact on big plays, that’s huge. #Ravens https://t.co/59Zyc1bmX8

— Dev Panchwagh (@devpanchwagh) July 30, 2024

Let’s not let the minutia damper our enthusiasm though. The fact is that, since JK Dobbins couldn’t manage to stay healthy, Lamar has been operating the running game with one hand tied behind his back in the years post-Mark Ingram. All due respect to Gus Edwards, who was a ton of fun to watch at times in his own right, but he didn’t scare defenses back there like 22 will when he lines up next to 8. Other than him, Jackson’s spent 2020-23 handing off to the likes of Devonta Freeman, Latavius Murray, Ty’Son Williams, Kenyan Drake, and Melvin Gordon.

Henry will be a force multiplier.

In Dev’s replies, another Ravens fan threw out this comparison, which I might love even more:

I’ll keep saying Randy Moss comparison COULD be the most accurate. Plenty of ppl swore Randy was done after playing horribly 4 OAK and being THIRTY when he arrived in NE. Diff positions but both r HOF players being unfairly undervalued by many due to age/some play decline. pic.twitter.com/djeUOvpaM7

— Stephen N. B (@itsborunda) July 30, 2024

Randy Moss had a couple mediocre seasons in Oakland – especially by his standards – before turning back into the game-wrecker he was in Minnesota when he paired up with Tom Brady in New England.

As Stephen notes, different positions. That also means different aging curves, when we compare NFL running backs and WRs. But Moss also did it for three-plus more seasons with the Pats. This is fair to talk about.

And to get even more excited about watching over the coming months.