Derrick Henry is one of the more intriguing options poised to be available at running back in free agency. Despite his age, he remains a productive NFL player and could be headed elsewhere after spending his first eight professional seasons with the Tennessee Titans. We take a look at some possible landing spots for Henry ahead of the start of free agency.
Derrick Henry Free Agency Landing Spots
Henry is getting up there in age for a running back at 30 years old, but he has remained a productive player throughout his NFL career.
The veteran continues to defy expectations for the typical running back life cycle after rushing for 1,167 yards and 12 touchdowns last season, his sixth straight season with 900+ yards, as he only failed to eclipse 1,000 in 2021, when he played just eight games and still came up only 63 yards short of the mark.
He is also just one year removed from rushing for 1,538 yards and 13 touchdowns on 349 carries in 2022. Although Henry perhaps cannot be expected to keep up that volume of carries, he appears poised to remain a dependable option in the backfield.
Henry is ranked 38th in PFN’s top 100 available free agents this offseason and seems likely to generate plenty of interest outside of Tennessee. His farewell speech following the Titans’ Week 18 game also indicates a likely parting of ways between the player and franchise, which would open the market to plenty of outside suitors.
A Lead Back for Jim Harbaugh and the Chargers
The Chargers have been attached to plenty of potential running back targets since Jim Harbaugh was hired as the team’s new head coach, including the likes of Saquon Barkley. Harbaugh’s offensive style necessitates strong running back play to open up the rest of the offense, something that a variety of options could deliver.
Rumors have swirled that Los Angeles could move on from free agent running back Austin Ekeler, which would bring a variety of other options into play. Although Henry has not been quite the pass-catching threat as Barkley and others, he could certainly provide dependable production running the ball to help open things up for Justin Herbert and Co.
It’s unlikely that Henry is the Chargers’ first choice, but striking out elsewhere could make him the best option for Harbaugh to have his potential bell cow at running back.
Bears Could Sign Henry To Surround Rookie QB
Chicago has a myriad of decisions to make this offseason, namely at quarterback, as it could either opt to stick with Justin Fields or take one of the top prospects with the No. 1 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. The Bears’ issues in recent years have gone beyond quarterback play, however, and signing a proven lead back could help alleviate some of their offensive struggles.
Chicago went with a largely running-back-by-committee approach in 2023, with no back truly emerging as a go-to guy. Signing Henry would give them a defined No. 1 guy in the room and a player who could take pressure off whoever ultimately ends up as the team’s starting quarterback.
Henry may not make the most sense timeline-wise, particularly if the Bears make a change at quarterback, but he is one player who could be a key difference-making addition to what has been a spotty offense.
Could Henry Stay in the AFC South and Join C.J. Stroud in Houston?
The Texans have already been connected to plenty of potential additions in the wake of a resurgent 2023 season and with plenty of salary cap room to boot. Houston could certainly look to bolster its wide receivers room for standout rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud, but adding a bona fide lead running back could help alleviate some of the pressure on him as well.
Henry would certainly help in that regard, even as improvements along the offensive line are also necessary. Houston’s 2023 leading rusher, Devin Singletary, is slated for free agency, while Dameon Pierce is signed for two more seasons and could serviceably fill a secondary role behind someone like Henry.
KEEP READING: Top Free Agent Running Backs
The Texans may want to allocate their cap space elsewhere, but signing Henry for the right price could be an impactful move as they aim to build on a surprise 2023 resurgence.
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