For the last few weeks, it has seemed like a foregone conclusion that veteran running back Derrick Henry is leaving Tennessee, with many even tracking the potential sale of his Nashville home and the purchase of a new home Dallas, where he has trained for years in the offseason. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler delivered the report many Titans fans were fearing today, claiming a low likelihood for Henry to return to Tennessee in 2024. He claims “the door is not completely closed,” but all signs continue to point towards the nearest exit.
The 30-year-old rusher heads to free agency as arguably the best running back option available in a loaded group. According to projected market values on Spotrac.com, Henry is poised to make the most in 2024 out of a position group that includes the likes of Josh Jacobs, Saquon Barkley, D’Andre Swift, Austin Ekeler, and Tony Pollard. The site projects Henry to be the only one of that group to make north of $10MM in 2024.
The two-time NFL rushing leader and 2020 Offensive Player of the Year was connected to the Ravens before the trade deadline and has continued to be linked to Baltimore since projections for his departure began. Plenty of other teams will vie for Henry after he finished second in the league last season with 1,167 rushing yards.
Here are a few other rumors coming out of Tennessee:
- At the NFL scouting combine last week, new head coach Brian Callahan had an opportunity to speak in front of the media. Callahan spoke on one of his young, new players, offensive lineman Peter Skoronski, in Indianapolis, stating that he believes that offensive guard is Skoronski’s best position. Despite spending 2022 as college football’s most dominant pass blocker as an offensive tackle at Northwestern, Skoronski fell victim to concerns about his 32-inch arms, considered too short for an NFL tackle. After getting selected No. 11 overall by Tennessee, Skoronski would go on to become the Titans starting left guard, where he would grade out as the league’s 29th best guard out of 79 graded players. Whether or not Skoronski has aspirations of kicking out to tackle at the NFL level, it sounds like Callahan intends to keep him inside.
- Lastly, Titans general manager Ran Carthon made headlines when making the statement recently that the team intends to bring in another quarterback to compete this offseason, according to Titans staff writer Jim Wyatt. With long-time veteran starter Ryan Tannehill‘s contract expiring, the team is left with only second-year starter Will Levis and former third-round pick Malik Willis at quarterback. The team apparently feels generally comfortable heading into the year with Levis as the penciled-in starter, and Carthon believes Willis has developed over his two years in the league. Still, Tennessee will want to bring in some competition. It’s unclear if they want someone like Kirk Cousins or Baker Mayfield to come in and compete for a starting job or if they would rather bring in someone like Jacoby Brissett or Tyrod Taylor, who could serve as a more reliable backup should Levis be injured or fail to play up to par. This seems like a perfect opportunity for Joe Flacco, who, since leaving Baltimore, has made a point to pursue jobs in which he has a strong chance of starting games. Regardless, there should be some new faces in red jerseys at camp this summer.
Joe Flacco seems like a better bet.
No reason to bring Cousins in with Levis there. Let the young kid play. If he sucks or gets injured toss in Joe Flacco.
Reevaluate the QB issue in 2025.
I wouldn’t hit the panic button and draft a QB or sign an expensive veteran.
Joe Alt or a tackle in the 1st
Grab a center somewhere
Bring in another receiver to join Hopkins and Burks and bring in a bruiser back to compliment Haskins and Sharpe.
The Titans seem like perfect trade back team. Go down in round one twice, collect picks for this year and next and commit to a rebuild. Good O line depth in the draft. Add a WR or two and build around Levis. If he doesn’t pan out, you’re right, have Flacco as #2 to carry them. And by gaining more picks in ’25, they can move up for a 1st round QB prospect.
There’s nothing that would say Levis ain’t the guy more than signing Cousins.. He’s going to command a huge contract with much of it guaranteed. There would be no “quarterback competition”. They’re not going that route.
I don’t disagree with ALt but also agree trading down to accumulate more picks in 24 and 25 drafts could really help for the future. I trust Bill Callahan in evaluating the oline prospects. A trade down this year could allow you to draft and develop a few guys to go along with Skowronski.
Is say offer 3 years when others offer 1-2. 3/20. 3/22. Try to get the last year of his worth for free or under 5. He’s an 8-12m on year guy.
He’s the difference in 3 and 3 and punting. Seattle needs him more than anyone else.
Plenty of good options for the Titans to pick up a good tackle prospect in the 1st round. It’s a no-brainer move….gotta be done. You pair of of those young left tackles with Skoronski and you’ve got the start of a foundation for the future for the line. They’re looking at rebuilding for a couple of years and while adding extra picks will help, I think it would be a mistake to trade back to for and miss out on one of top 3 tackles in the draft. But, if Callahan sees something he likes that will be there in the 20s, I imagine he knows what he’s doing so I wouldn’t be shocked to see them trade way back. If they could work it so they got a couple good tackle prospects in the 1st round, I think Levis would be over the moon happy. I have a different idea for the backup QB role though….Mac Jones. Forget the old Flacco, Brissett pattern, there’s no hope for a decent return. Role the dice on a younger guy in need of a change of scenery who still has some upside.
Like the younger guy, project QB angle better as well. Levis has too hard of head to bring an older guy in to back him up. He will not listen and learn from him. That is going to be on Brian and staff to get done. He knows what to do.
I fully trust whatever they decide on the draft. With the Callahans and Ran, it should go well. Subject to what they pick up in FA, it is clear they need O-line and a WR. However, if Bowers is still around they better pull the trigger. They could use some help at D-back and LB as well, but FA will decide what. This is going to be a 2-3 year process to get rebuilt fully.
King Henry was fabulous but he looked gassed last season. No one should be hiring Henry for more than splitting duties. With fewer hits, perhaps he’ll look more lively.