Welcome to the Tennessee Titans 2024 NFL Free Agency Primer presented by Music City Miracles! The Titans can re-sign their own free agents prior to the start of the legal tampering period, which is March 11th. With complete roster authority at his disposal, general manager Ran Carthon will work with newly hired head coach Brian Callahan to develop the team’s 2024 strategy.
The Titans are expected to have 24 free agents total (19 unrestricted), which includes a number of important role players and starters. We’ll examine each free agent in-depth over the coming weeks and offer justifications for the Titans to sign them again or not. As an addition to our analysis, we’ll provide our ultimate judgment and a forecast.
We’re breaking down superstar running back Derrick Henry today.
Derrick Henry is his name.
Role: Running Back
Age as of right now: 30
Reasons to resign for the Titans Henry Henry remained a potent rusher in the 2023 campaign. In the league, he ranked second with 1,167 rushing yards and eighth with 12 touchdowns. The issue with Tennessee’s offense was not Henry. It was not Henry, nor the rushing approach in general, but rather the Titans’ offensive line play and wide receiver depth that proved to be fatal.
Eddie George leads the Titans in rushing yards with 507 yards, and Henry is now ranked second all-time. Henry would become the franchise’s all-time greatest rushing back with one more season in Tennessee. The Titans have cap space worth over $70 million as well. Henry’s re-signing wouldn’t stop the Titans from taking care of other needs.
The reasons behind Henry’s release by the Titans
Henry will officially turn 31 during the 2024 campaign (early January 2025), having turned 30 in January. Running backs don’t usually age well, and Henry’s output and skill have already somewhat declined. Throughout his time there, the Titans have a history of relying too much on Henry.
New head coach Brian Callahan is a pass-happy leader that wants to field an explosive passing offense. It’s a new era of Titans football that’s supposed to lean on coach Callahan and his development of franchise quarterback Will Levis. The Titans could go a lot cheaper at running back by pairing Tyjae Spears with another draft pick, or a lower-cost free agent like Zack Moss, Gus Edwards, or Devin Singletary.
Projected Contract
Henry is expected to sign a $10.3 million one-year contract, according to Spotrac. Henry will contribute $4.73 million to the Titans’ 2024 cap regardless of whether he plays for the team or not because his previous contract with them included voidable years. Henry’s resigning means that the starting point is $4.73 million. A $4 million contract extension for one year, for instance, would theoretically be a $8.73 million contract.
Final judgment
If the terms are reasonable, the Titans ought to re-sign Henry. Henry might be a key component of a more successful attack because he is still an effective rusher. Henry is not to blame for the Titans’ two-year run of offensive line and wide receiver miscues. The Titans can continue to play a pass-happy offense centered around Levis while keeping Henry and improving the wide receiver positions and offensive line. It is not stated anywhere that keeping Henry will stop it from happening.
Forecast
This is really challenging. I think Henry and the Titans will break up. For the first time, Henry has expressed in public that he is interested in trying free agency. The resurgent Titans don’t present the aging Henry with a fantastic chance to win a Super Bowl, which is something he also really wants to do. Throughout free agency, I see teams like the Buffalo Bills, Dallas Cowboys, and/or Baltimore Ravens expressing interest in Henry.
