Buying and selling Derrick Henry would make a whole lot of sense for Titans

If new Tennessee Titans normal supervisor Ran Carthon desires to make a daring transfer to start out placing his stamp on the roster, buying and selling the staff’s most outstanding participant could be an intriguing — and wise — place to start out. 

There have been conflicting studies this week about whether or not the Titans have been going to buy celebrity working again Derrick Henry. Michael Silver of Bally Sports activities reported the staff was contemplating it. Jonathan Jones of CBS adopted up on Tuesday by writing his sources point out that’s not taking place.

It ought to occur.

It could make sense for it to occur.

It could make much more sense for the Titans to truly comply with via it. 

On the floor it will not make a ton of sense as a result of not solely is Henry the most effective gamers within the league at his place (and the most effective gamers within the league no matter place), however he’s additionally the focus of what the Titans do offensively. They’re a working staff, and Henry has been their id for the previous 5 years. And he has been excellent at placing the staff on his again and carrying it. 

However you need to dig somewhat deeper than simply floor degree evaluation to see why it ought to be on the desk.

First, the Titans are coming off a extremely disappointing 7-10 season regardless of having Henry put collectively one other nice yr. The staff is in transition and never solely has a whole lot of holes, however has seen a whole lot of different key gamers depart the roster over the previous two years. Huge receiver A.J. Brown was traded a yr in the past, whereas Taylor Lewan and Robert Woods have been launched on offense this offseason and out of doors linebacker Bud Dupree can be on the best way out.

An already mediocre staff has loads of holes. 

The Titans additionally solely have six draft picks within the 2023 draft to start out filling a few of these holes, and dealing Henry may deliver again extra draft capital.

Another excuse to make a transfer with Henry is the matter of positional practicality. Working backs have a brief shelf life within the NFL, and they don’t are likely to age gracefully. There comes some extent the place they fall off the cliff as an alternative of declining, and at age 29 and after greater than 1,750 carries, Henry is likely to be quickly approaching that time. 

It is usually one of the vital simply replaceable positions within the NFL. As nice as Henry has been, the Titans have nonetheless had some success with out him within the lineup. Take the 2021 season for example. He missed 9 video games that season because of damage and the Titans not solely went 6-3 in his absence, they nonetheless ran the ball exceptionally properly with a secure of backs that included D’Onta Foreman and Dontrell Hilliard, with Foreman matching and Hilliard exceeding Henry’s 4.3 yards per carry that yr. 

The Titans are a mean staff that wants picks and cap house. Dealing Henry may assist resolve each of these issues they usually nonetheless may be capable to discover any person that may run the ball sufficient to assist them compete.