Ravens predicted to draft 32-TD running back as heir apparent to Derrick Henry in 2026

The Baltimore Ravens have Derrick Henry, one of the best running backs of this generation, on their roster. 

The former Tennessee Titan joined the Ravens in free agency last offseason, and dominated in his first season with the team. Henry rushed for 1,921 yards with a league-leading 16 scores, and also earned his fifth Pro Bowl selection. 

As a result, the Ravens rewarded Henry with a two-year extension this offseason. However, the running back isn't getting any younger, and will turn 32 during the 2025 season. 

With that in mind, Mark Stolte of Pro Football Network has the Ravens selecting Penn State running back Nicholas Singleton with the No. 29 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. 

If the Ravens indeed have the No. 29 pick, then that means the team will fall just shy of winning the Super Bowl once again. However, the roster will still likely be in good shape, so using a first-round pick on a running back would be a luxury the team could afford. 

Regarding Singleton and the Ravens, Stolte offered the following: 

The Baltimore Ravens have been elite on the ground every year Lamar Jackson’s been healthy. Drafting Nicholas Singleton now ensures that continues whenever Derrick Henry slows down.

Since 2019, Baltimore leads the league with 492 runs of 10+ yards (112 more than the next best; Philadelphia). They also have 137 runs of 20+ yards, 45 more than Arizona in second.

Singleton fits right in, ranking 32nd out of 476 backs in 10-yard runs last season and 34th in breakaway yards (15+). He averaged seven yards per carry against non-stacked boxes, and that number could rise behind Jackson.

In 2024, Singleton rushed for 1,099 yards with 12 touchdowns. The running back also showed quite a bit in the receiving game, catching 41 passes for 375 yards and five touchdowns. 

As Stolte mentioned, Singleton averaged seven yards per carry against non-stacked boxes in 2024, and that's a trait that could fit in perfectly in Baltimore. While much smaller than Henry, Singleton is a bruiser in his own right and often makes the first tackler miss. 

Henry is still performing at an elite level, but that could change at any moment given his age. Plus, in the modern NFL, most teams have two or three capable backs on the roster as opposed to relying on one. 

Drafting Singleton would ensure the Ravens still have a quality bruising back if/when Henry comes down to earth. Currently, the team has Justice Hill and Keaton Mitchell on the roster, but both are change of pace backs and likely not much else.