Congratulations to the Tennessee Titans for being the last nail in the coffin for the running back position. To speak the obvious, running backs were once the focal point in the offense going back decades to some of the premier players at the position like Barry Sanders and Walter Payton. Unfortunately as the game has evolved, the position has been decimated by contract structure and it is one of the lowest paid positions in the National Football League.
Tennessee Titans Likely to Let Superstar Running Back Walk
There is a long list of running backs that are desperately looking for a new contract this season and largest amongst them is Tennessee Superstar Derrick Henry. Henry is on the last leg of a four year contract worth $50 million that he signed in the 2020 offseason.
Of all running backs in the NFL, Henry is most likely to make the Hall of Fame after he has already put together a tremendous career. After being picked in the second round of the 2016 NFL Draft, Henry took a few years to acclimate to the league but once he did, he was clearly the most game changing running back in the league. Henry has more rushing yards and attempts than any active player in the league with 2,011 carries for 9.349 rushing yards.
Unfortunately for Henry, the way the league has changed has absolutely ruined the way that teams look at the running back position. While few running backs are even selected with early draft picks, Henry was one of the very few to earn a premier contract after his rookie deal. In the currently league, running backs are ridden hard and thrown away early as Henry is treated like a dinosaur at a young 29 years old.
There was a major push by the leagues running backs to hold out for solid contracts and the entire league completely refused their demands. With Henry being an elite player at his position, a contract averaging $12 million a year seems outrageous but the problem has become that there is so much available talent at the running back position that it simply doesn’t make that much of an impact anymore.
Henry is clearly a prime specimen at the position weighing in at 247 pounds at 6’3″ and still having the explosive speed to break away big touchdown runs. Henry has clearly established himself as a generational talent at the position but that won’t matter much in the offseason. Henry will likely struggle similarly to the way other aging superstar running backs have such as Adrian Peterson or Frank Gore and be happy to just earn carries with an NFL roster.
Henry has acknowledged the situation with Tennessee and recently spoke out about trying to finish the season strong as potentially his last with his longtime team.
“We’ll just treat it as any other game,” Henry said, via Kayla Anderson of 104.5 The Zone. “Try not to get too caught up, too overwhelmed. Just enjoy the moment. Focus on finishing the season strong, going out there playing a good game overall as a team and hopefully getting the win.”
Tennessee closes the season against their division rival Jacksonville Jaguars and will attempt to ruin their opponents playoffs hopes with a victory. Tennessee has already been eliminated from playoff contention but they will attempt to finish the season on a high note.
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