There’s hardly a player the Tennessee Titans should be more pressed to keep on the roster than Derrick Henry in 2020.
After finishing the year out with the NFL’s rushing title, Henry propelled the offense through the postseason with his nearly unstoppable contributions to the run game.
So, how much should the Titans pay him to avoid the former Alabama rusher taking his talents to another team?
Henry briefly discussed the subject with Rich Eisen recently.
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Eisen asked if the six-year, $90-million deal the Dallas Cowboys gave running back Ezekiel Elliott just one ago would be “the floor” for what Henry is seeking.
Henry responded confidently, saying “Zeke’s number is the floor.”
But it appears that this got lost in translation — there was most certainly a miscommunication here.
There’s no doubt that Henry deserves to collect a large salary for his efforts, but he didn’t mean what Eisen and others may have thought he did.
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“Misinterpreted what he said,” he wrote. “Thought he was saying “Zeke is the floor” , meaning he holds the floor as him being the highest paid at our position . So I was replying yes lol oh well.”
@KingHenry_2 clarifying his comment about contract. That’s much more reassuring.
He deserves to be paid but the Titans can’t go crazy. Need to keep the team competitive! pic.twitter.com/zLPk35KaD3
— Two-Tone Blue Nation (@TwoToneBlueNat1) February 3, 2020
Is Derrick Henry deserving of a contract that size, and will a team give it to him?
Per Spotrac, Henry should be getting a four-year deal for a total of 55.3 million, comparable to the contracts of Todd Gurley and Le’Veon Bell.
Tennessee has $53 million to spare now, though the team could create more room by cutting players.
The Titans could also choose to franchise tag him, which is plausible considering how essential he’s been to their success.
It will be interesting to see how things play out as the Titans build their team ahead of the upcoming season.
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