Derrick Henry’s Future in Tennessee: Is the End Near?
Titans running back Derrick Henry has been a force to be reckoned with since arriving in Tennessee in 2016. The second-round pick from Alabama has consistently surpassed the 1,000-yard mark in five out of his eight seasons with the team. He even made history by becoming the eighth player in NFL history to rush for over 2,000 yards in a single season. However, despite his remarkable achievements, it appears that Henry’s time in Nashville may be coming to an end.
Speculation about Henry’s future has been swirling throughout the season, with rumors of potential trade deals and teams showing interest in acquiring the talented running back. Although the trade deadline passed without a deal involving Henry, his recent heartfelt goodbye has fueled speculation that his departure from the Titans is imminent.
Henry reached a significant milestone for NFL running backs last week – he turned 30 years old. Historically, this is the age at which most franchises begin to shy away from investing heavily in running backs. The league has consistently devalued the position for years, and once a running back hits the age of 30, their production and compensation are expected to decline.
While Henry is still considered a valuable player, teams tend to grow apprehensive as players approach their thirties. In the 2022 season, Henry rushed for over 1,500 yards, but this season he barely crossed the 1,000-yard mark. This decline in production can be attributed to the Titans reducing his workload. Despite playing in all 16 games for the past two seasons, Henry’s number of carries decreased by 88 in the 2023 season.
Despite rushing for an impressive 153 yards in the season finale against the Jacksonville Jaguars, it seems that Tennessee is ready to move in a new direction. While Henry may not be the same player he was a couple of years ago, he could still be a valuable asset to a team in the right situation. The Dallas Cowboys were linked to Henry earlier in the season, and those rumors may resurface once the postseason concludes. Adding Henry as a complementary back to the explosive passing game in Dallas could be a game-changer for the team.
Regardless of what the future holds for Henry, it appears that his time as a Tennessee Titan has come to an end. After two consecutive seasons of missing just two games, he will undoubtedly have plenty of options as he enters free agency. Teams will likely be eager to acquire his talents at a fraction of the cost the Titans were paying. Henry’s departure from Tennessee marks the end of an era, but it also signals a new beginning for him as he looks to make an impact elsewhere in the league.
