Tennessee Titans running back Derrick Henry is one of the most talked about players in NFL trade rumors in recent days. Hours out from the NFL trade deadline, the Titans have reportedly made a decision on a possible blockbuster deal.
The Titans kicked off their mini-rebuild ahead of Week 8 by trading All-Pro safety Kevin Byard to the Philadelphia Eagles. It’s a move that immediately led many NFL teams to believe the Titans would have a fire sale, resulting in a flurry of calls to Tennessee’s front office this week.
- Derrick Henry career stats: 8,760 rushing yards, 81 rushing touchdowns, 4.7 yards per carry in 108 games played
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A loss on Sunday would drop the Titans to 2-5, effectively taking them out of the NFL playoff race in November. At a time when the franchise is now trying to gauge whether Will Levis or Malik Willis can be a franchise quarterback, there’s value in trading veterans for draft picks.
Henry and wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins have generated plenty of trade buzz in the last two weeks. While Hopkins is under contract in 2024, Tennessee could move on from the veteran wideout. Meanwhile, Henry is poised to hit the open market next spring.
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According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Titans have informed Henry they don’t intend to trade the Pro Bowl running back. While it doesn’t guarantee he won’t be moved, Tennessee has told its franchise star that there is nothing going on right now to suggest a deal will happen by Tuesday’s 4 p.m. ET trade deadline.
- Derrick Henry contract: $16.367 million cap hit in 2023, 2024 free agent
Interestingly, per Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, the Titans did receive at least one offer for Henry recently. Tennessee intends to at least engage in conversations with NFL clubs, seeing what teams are willing to offer for Henry or other players on the roster.
One issue that has complicated matters for the Titans is Henry’s contract. He’s still owed more than $5 million for the remainder of the season, a price that many teams are uncomfortable paying. If Tennessee wanted to make a deal happen, it would potentially need to cover a portion of Henry’s salary.
The Titans’ decision to hold on to Henry, barring a much stronger offer, is likely tied to the asking price. According to Rapoport, Tennessee wants more than a mid-round pick for Henry. Given the degree to which NFL teams have devalued the running back position, a trade becomes far more unlikely.
There’s also some incentive for the Titans to keep Henry and Hopkins. Parting ways with both players would put Levis and Willis in a situation where the young quarterbacks have minimal starting-caliber talent around them. While neither player is viewed as a no-doubt franchise quarterback, the Titans’ front office and coaching staff would be doing a disservice to the young signal-callers and hurting their own evaluation process by trading away Henry and Hopkins.