For the first time in his career, Tennessee Titans running back and pending free agent Derrick Henry will hit the open market.
Back in 2020, Henry was slated to become a free agent before the Titans put the franchise tag on him and ultimately came to an agreement on a long-term deal.
As he prepares to hit free agency ahead of his age 31 season, The Athletic’s Dianna Russini reports that teams view Henry in the second tier of running backs set to become available, a group that also includes Tony Pollard and D’Andre Swift.
On the first tier, Russini writes, is Saquon Barkley and Josh Jacobs.
Based on talks with different teams, Jacobs & Barkley sit at the top of FA RB lists, followed by the next wave of backs like Henry, Swift and Pollard. That said, some rather pay 2nd tier players around $6 million rather than $10 million-plus to Jacobs and Barkley. Let's see.
— Dianna Russini (@DMRussini) March 5, 2024
After a ridiculous run in Tennessee over the past six seasons, Henry will no doubt be the most proven back on the open market. However, his age will likely hurt his cause in terms of getting big money and a long-term deal.
Henry did seem to lose a step in 2023, but he still managed to finish second in the NFL in rushing yards, which is made more impressive by the fact that he was running behind one of the worst offensive lines in the sport.
I don’t anticipate Henry being back in Tennessee in 2024, but I do believe he’ll land with a contender that will give him a chance to win a Super Bowl.
