After Tennessee Titans running back Derrick Henry broke the matrix in 2019 and finished as the league’s top rusher with 1,540 yards, he has rightly been included in the conversation as one of the best backs in the NFL.
However, the one knock on Henry has been his lack of involvement in the passing game, which is something the Titans need to change in 2020, if for no other reason than it’s important for the team’s best play-maker to have the ball in his hands as much as possible.
Despite that knock, ESPN ranks Henry at No. 5 on its list of the top 10 running backs in 2020, a list based on the opinions of 50 NFL executives, coaches, scouts and players.
For some who were asked about Henry, not being an established pass-catcher didn’t really matter, as per ESPN’s write-up for him, courtesy of Jeremy Fowler.
Perhaps the most feared runner in the league is a true closer.
“He’s so tough to tackle over four quarters,” said one long-time NFL defensive coach. “Completely wears you down and takes over games.”
Henry fell to No. 5 on this list, but to many evaluators who prefer a true workhorse, he belongs much higher. Henry led the NFL in rushing attempts (106) and yards (572) against boxes of eight or more defenders. The next closest was Adrian Peterson, with 324 yards.
“Personal preference, but I’d rather see good running backs running for yards and taking time on the clock and keeping my defense on the sideline,” said one NFC exec. “The guy from Tennessee does that better than anyone.”
Henry fell on many ballots because of his paltry 57 receptions and 578 yards for his four-year career, a tough sell in a pass-first league. But Tennessee hasn’t given him the chance to do much of that, either.
ESPN’s entire top 10 shook out like this:
- Saquon Barkley | New York Giants
- Christian McCaffrey | Carolina Panthers
- Ezekiel Elliot | Dallas Cowboys
- Alvin Kamara | New Orleans Saints
- Derrick Henry | Tennessee Titans
- Dalvin Cook | Minnesota Vikings
- Nick Chubb | Cleveland Browns
- Joe Mixon | Cincinnati Bengals
- Josh Jacobs | Las Vegas Raiders
- Le’Veon Bell | New York Jets
Henry’s importance extends beyond just how he runs the football. The mere threat of his ability to break off chunks of yards helps set the Titans’ passing game up, which thrived via play action in 2019.
For the moment, Henry is set to play the 2020 campaign on the franchise tag, paying him $10.2 million. The Titans have until July 15 to come to terms on an extension, or else they’ll be back in the same boat in 2021.
General manager Jon Robinson has made it clear that the team would like to get something done, but the two sides have yet to find a middle ground in negotiations. No details have emerged about what each side is looking for, though.
If Henry is looking to be one of the highest-paid running backs in the sport, he’s going to have a problem securing that kind of money. Not only has the position been devalued over the years, but his lack of production through the air also hurts his chances.
With every passing day, it’s looking more and more likely nothing gets done. If that happens, Henry will be eligible to hit the free-agent market in 2021, although the Titans could franchise tag him again to avoid such a scenario.
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