The 2019-2020 Tennessee Titans are having an extremely memorable season, and they have Derrick Henry to thank for it.
However, will the Alabama product remain in Tennessee beyond this season?
Henry’s rookie contract expires after the playoffs, and he will be an unrestricted free agent.
This season was by far his best statistically and NFL fans from across the country took notice of his on-the-field dominance.
His impressive stats, to date, include 1,540 yards off of 303 carries, 16 rushing touchdowns, 18 receptions for 204 yards and two receiving touchdowns.
Gil Brandt of NFL.com says the Titans would be wise to sign Henry to a short-term deal.
He acknowledges his recent success and how unique he is from just about every other running back in the league, but his “shelf-life” might be shorter than most due to his aggressive play style.
“He’s the first player in NFL history to post 180-plus rushing yards in consecutive playoff games, and he has clearly been integral to the Titans‘ current run, having generated 71 percent of their offensive yards in the Wild Card and Divisional Rounds,” says Brandt, “Knock on wood, but in his four NFL seasons, he has managed to avoid a major injury thus far.”
Brandt references the recent contracts the Los Angeles Rams gave to Todd Gurley and the Dallas Cowboys gave to Ezekiel Elliott, both running backs are comparable to Henry.
While they are similar backs, that doesn’t mean they should try to mimic those contracts. He believes it’s important to lock the former Heisman-winning running back down short term and see how it plays out.
A suggestion was brought to the table by Brandt, and it may be one the Tennessee Titans should consider to take seriously.
“I would try to stick to something like a three-year deal for $12 million-$13 million per year with performance-based incentives, especially in light of how injuries kept Gurley from contributing much in 2019. I would be willing overpay for Henry because of how crucial he’s been to the Titans‘ success, but not by much,” says Brandt.
The word “overpaying” may not be what Titans and Alabama fans would call it, but the idea is very solid.
The concept of a short-term deal is wise with Henry, this is because you can always offer him an extension with more money, should he be playing well, remaining healthy and wants to stay in Tennessee.
That deal is a financial win-win for both Henry and the Titans. The team won’t be spending too much money on him, especially if it’s incentive based, and Henry has the opportunity to secure a hefty contract as long as he achieves the benchmarks for those incentives.
There’s plenty of time from now until when Henryhas to come to a decision, and we here at Roll Tide Wire will keep you updated on where he will be playing come the 2020 NFL regular season.
[lawrence-auto-related count=3]