MARCH 12: Sources tell Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports that Tennessee is not, in fact, shopping Henry. Despite a number of recent (and expected) cuts, the Titans should again be able to compete for a playoff spot in a suspect AFC South, and dealing the focal point of their offense would obviously undermine those efforts (though new GM Ran Carthon indicated he is open to spreading some of Henry’s workload around to other players, as Terry McCormick of The Portland Sun writes).
MARCH 6: Although the free agency period has not officially begun, teams often engage in light conversations with other teams at the NFL scouting combine, gauging interest and market value in certain assets. Team officials will also start shopping players that they might be willing to trade, as was the case this past week with the Titans shopping star running back Derrick Henry, according to Michael Silver of Bally Sports. 
Silver claims his sources were all current NFL general managers who report that Tennessee was attempting to deal their bell cow back. Henry is currently headed into a contract year, in which he will hold a $16.37MM cap hit. The veteran running back has already far exceeded the average career of most NFL running backs, an exceedingly impressive feat considering the physical nature of Henry’s playing style. There’s nothing to suggest that Henry doesn’t still have plenty of gas left in the tank.
That’s not for lack of trying on the Titans’ part. In three of the last four years, Henry has led the NFL in rush attempts. In that fourth year, Henry had 219 carries in eight games before suffering a season-ending injury. In a 17-game season last year, Henry was on pace for 465 carries, which would’ve been an NFL record. This excessive usage has resulted in some very strong seasons for Henry. He led the NFL in rushing yards in 2019 and 2020, breaking the 2,000-yard rushing mark in the latter season. In the 2021 injury-shortened season, Henry was on pace to be approach 2,000 yards rushing for the second straight year. He’s also recorded double-digit touchdowns every season since his second year in the league, including the eight-game 2021 season.
Which teams might be interested in acquiring the bruising runner? There certainly are some strong options for Henry. He may find himself joining Sean Payton‘s first team in Denver. The Broncos have plenty of names under contract next year with Javonte Williams, Chase Edmonds, Damarea Crockett, and Tyler Badie. Williams is expected to be the starter, but after a strong rookie season, injuries held Williams back in Year 2. The Dolphins are another team that could utilize Henry. They currently don’t have any running backs under contract as Salvon Ahmed, Myles Gaskin, Raheem Mostert, and Jeff Wilson are all headed towards free agency. Lastly, the Saints could certainly find themselves in need of a lead running back, depending on what happens with Alvin Kamara.
Even at 29 years old, Henry would be a huge addition to any of these franchises. For one whose past career would indicate a player with not much tread left on the tires, Henry shows no signs of slowing down. The Titans may not be willing to shell out for Henry’s final year, but odds are that some team will.
Wow!
Would not want him. Over used in his career, look at other running backs throughout the years. One year they are good. They hit the wall next year and they are never the same.
It’s essentially just a 1yr deal now. Even if you had long term concerns about his durability, I don’t understand not wanting him for 1 year.
W/O question for a year. 4th-5th round pick though.
Are you not familiar with Derrick Henry’s seasons in 2019 and 2020? And then what he did again in 2022?
The point you’re making doesn’t apply to Derrick Henry at all.
2020 was 600 touches ago. Love the player, but he’s a running back with a ton of mileage.
Not all RBs are built the same. He hasn’t exactly shown any signs of slowing down, and based on his history, excels when used more. What I do find interesting is that the Titans are potentially looking to move him with just one year left. Do they know something that others wouldn’t?
That they’re in a rebuild? They have no offensive line, for one thing. Even if Henry is the rare RB who can be great with a ton of mileage closing in on 30, but that’s line is empty.
They play in a crappy division. As long as it’s performing the way it has, I’m not sure they’ll ever enter a complete rebuild. Draft some kids for the line and tighten things up, they may very well win the division.
Their roster has gotten steadily worse. They’re losing more pieces right now. Tannehill is older and more banged up. The Colts are about to draft a franchise QB and the Jaguars are on the upswing. Being good compared to that division isn’t going to be as easy as it was, and it was a dicey path to a championship in the best of times.
They had a good defense last year and played good fundamental football. After Philly thumped them, they just faded away.
Henry’s really just had that one injury blip in 2021. If I were to pay any RB at age 29, it would probably be him.
CMC and Big Henry in San Fran! Get some!
Let’s go!!!!
Madden trade… Lamar jackson for Derrick Henry, and Tanehill straight up.
In this scenario, are you holding DeCosta’s family hostage?
Fun. Ravens add Queen and Titans add their #1
If you’re a team like the Bulls, this should be a no brainer.
Does Henry have a good jump shot?
The way the Bulls are playing right now, Henry could probably help them.
Uh?
The White Male Sports Media would agree.
Looks like Vrabel is taking a page out of the Belichick book, i.e., better to get rid of a player a year too early than a year too late.
As for Henry, he is a salary cap bargain for any team that is willing to offer some good picks – which is likely going to be the sticking point.
No one is giving up more than a 3rd for a 29!year old RB with a major injury in his past
He doesn’t have a major injury past
That’s a page out of the Bill Walsh book to be fair
Bad offseason to be shopping a running back.
Given his age, contract and excessive use..I’m not sure why any sane GM would trade anything of value for him. Nice try Titans.
If I’m the jets and I miss on Rodgers, I may think about adding Henry. Hall can still be the change of pace and catch passes out of the backfield. We get a game manager at QB for now and play power run strong defense ball.
This is if we can’t get Rodgers.
Hall all day. They need to find out if the kid can bounce back from the injury, and if so, let him loose.
I’m not sure what the Broncos would trade for Henry, not to mention the fact they will have two backs positioned to take the lion’s share of Carrie’s in Williams and Murray. I’m not sure that adding a high volume, recently injured, and high profile back is the answer, even if Denver had enough picks to spare.
I understand a lot of the hate RBs get in the market , but Henry is the exception.. a top 100 pick is not unreasonable.. Please Brad Holmes .. pick 81 should do it ..
For one, he will never be traded to Denver or Miami or any team in the AFC unless they over pay, by a lot. He will be traded to the NFC, look out for the Rams they love to be players with the big names.
That may be true if the Titans plan on competing any time soon but by the time they’re ready to compete, Henry will be a backup
The Rams just about had CMC last year but because the 9ers could offer all 3 picks this year, they went with the 9ers because the rams only had two this year and one would of been next year.
Titans are finally realizing it’s a passing league. Makes the decision to trade away AJ Brown that much worse.
They’re not the only one. Not surprisingly, to me, guys like Chubb, Mixon and Taylor have been rumored as trade candidates.
Keep Henry…trade the owner.
Because the Titans’ principal owner is a woman?
Because she continues to cluelessly stick her nose into football operations like firing her freshly extended GM midseason last year while they were trying to make the playoffs (they cratered after that move), and at the same time she was asking the city for a new stadium. Brilliant.
I suppose Rondon won’t criticize the Buffalo Bills for their new government-funded stadium. That’s because the Bills’ chairman is a man.
You mean Kim Pegula? That dude?
The GM presided over a roster that’s gotten worse and worse, and she likely had to fire him to keep Vrabel happy (regardless of what he says publicly).
Ya, that’s why Chucky. Does being a female mean she can’t be criticized? Grow up
Because Male Chauvinist Pigs, Male Supremacists, and Incels don’t want women involved in anything that has to do with sports.
Deshaun Watson: “I use to think the same way until I started getting massages”.
He is completely out of gas. Another E.Elliot. No thanks.
He was 2nd in the league in rushing
King Henry was a legend. He might have another good season, or maybe two in the tank if not overused again. The Titans ran this beast of running back into the ground. There’s no way Henry will be better than the 22 year old versions of himself coming out of the draft in the second and third round going forward.
Adrian Peterson was on league minimum, even while knocking back 1000 yard seasons (barely) shortly after this point in his career. I’m can remember Earl Campbell being run into the ground on the Houston Oilers. Apparently something similar happened to Barry Sanders in Detroit (didn’t see it as I wasn’t watching the league during the Sanders years).