NFL Analysis
2/15/24
7 min read
2024 NFL Free Agency: 5 Best Fits For Titans RB Derrick Henry
Derrick Henry's time with the Tennessee Titans has come to an end. The NFL's leading rusher during the 2019 and 2020 seasons will become a free agent in March, and he’s not expected to return to the Titans.
But what teams could be in the market for Henry's services? Here are the top five landing spots for Henry this offseason.
>> READ MORE: Top 100 Free Agent Rankings
5 BEST FREE AGENT FITS FOR Derrick Henry
Las Vegas Raiders
It’s very likely the Las Vegas Raiders will lose their All-Pro running back this offseason because Josh Jacobs is scheduled to hit the market again. Jacobs led the NFL in rushing yards and yards from scrimmage in 2022 but had a “down” year in 2023.
It seems unlikely the Raiders will use the franchise tag on him again, as they might want to save some money at that position.
Zamir White was a competent player in the season's final four games, but new coach Antonio Pierce might want to pair him with a veteran. Henry is still one of the most physical running backs in the league, and that's what Pierce wants on offense.
The Raiders used I-formation on 18 percent of their first down plays last season, the most in the NFL. There might not be a better running back playing behind a fullback than Henry, which makes this fit even better.
White would be an excellent No. 2 back. Together, they could provide plenty of power and physicality in the backfield. A strong running game will be necessary because the Raiders likely will start a young quarterback in 2024. Henry could be a much cheaper option than Jacobs, giving them quality running back production at the right price.
Houston Texans
This isn’t a perfect fit for many reasons, including the Houston Texans’ style of offense. They use a lot of shotgun and empty back sets on later downs, and their run game is predicated on wide-zone runs. But there are a lot of reasons why this could work.
First of all, no team in the NFL knows Henry better than the Texans. In 14 career games against Houston, Henry ran for 1,431 yards and 12 touchdowns. Familiarity is nice for free agents, but it shouldn’t be the selling point.
This makes a ton of sense for the Texans because a dominant ground attack is the only thing this team is missing from making a deep run into the playoffs. Devin Singletary had a nice season but is also scheduled to become a free agent in March. Singletary is a good player, but his lack of size and power showed up against better defenses this season.
Under offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik, the Texans used I-formation or a single back under center on 41 percent of their first down plays.
Their 15 percent I-formation rate on first down was the second-highest in the NFL, only behind the Raiders. So maybe this is a better fit than most would perceive.
Henry would likely be part of a committee in Houston, and it would need to pair him with a back with more passing game prowess. But adding him to an offense with a young C.J. Stroud makes a ton of sense.
Miami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins have flirted with acquiring Henry for a few years, but it never came to fruition. Perhaps this is the year since Henry seems set to hit the open market. The only issue is that running back production is the least of the Dolphins' worries.
Raheem Mostert and De’Von Achane combined for 1,812 yards and 26 rushing touchdowns while averaging a whopping 5.8 yards per carry. Even Jeff Wilson averaged 4.6 yards per rush on 41 touches. Whoever the Dolphins put in the backfield produced last season, and Mostert and Achane will return in 2024.
There is also a chance coach Mike McDaniel believes Mostert and Achane, despite being highly productive, are too similar. Both have a ton of speed and are threats to score on any touch.
But neither is a dominating inside runner who can move the pile when needed. It is worth noting the Dolphins play under center a lot, and they had a fullback on the field for more than 38 percent of snaps last season. The fit isn’t quite as clunky as expected in a McDaniel offense.
Henry shouldn’t be a workhorse back for anyone at this career stage. But pairing him with Mostert and Achane would be quite the sight. He could be the thunder to their lightning. Maybe that's what the Dolphins’ offense needs in big games against good opponents.
>> READ MORE: Ranking Top Free Agents at Every Position
Los Angeles Chargers
Jim Harbaugh now is their coach, so you can bet the Los Angeles Chargers will be more physical on offense. And with Greg Roman installed as the offensive coordinator, you can also bet the Chargers will be under center more than ever.
Harbaugh will take a while to rebuild this team, especially because of their cap situation. But swapping Austin Ekeler for Henry seems reasonable. Harbaugh will want a running back who can win between the tackles and grind out the hard yards.
We should expect the Chargers to use more of a running back-by-committee approach this season, but adding Henry as a power back with the expectation of 10-14 carries a game makes a ton of sense.
It might not make much financial sense for the Chargers to spend any more cap space on a running back, but Harbaugh has always been different regarding roster building. He will want to establish a physical and tough culture immediately, and no running back in free agency embodies that more than Henry.
Dallas Cowboys
Of all the teams mentioned on this list, the Dallas Cowboys might be the worst on-the-field fit. Mike McCarthy’s offense is built out of the shotgun and predicated on throwing a ton of short passes on early downs.
Dak Prescott is coming off the best season of his career, and he led the NFL in completions with 410. This was the second time Prescott completed exactly 410 passes in McCarthy's offense in three seasons. Under McCarthy, they are not an under-center team that wants to play power football.
But power football could be something the Cowboys need to get back to doing in this "all-in" season coming up. McCarthy is entering the final year of his deal, and it's clear the Cowboys are trying to load up for one more run.
Tony Pollard is a free agent in March, and it seems unlikely he will return in 2024 after playing last season on the franchise tag. Dallas appears to be ready to cut back its spending on the running back after paying Ezekiel Elliott big money for the last several seasons, plus a franchise tag for Pollard.
But a one-year deal for Henry could work. The Cowboys need a more efficient and physical rushing attack, and Henry could bring that to Dallas. However, the fit seems clunky as Henry has never been a West Coast running back operating exclusively out of shotgun.
>> READ MORE: Every Team's Biggest FA Need
