Derrick Henry contract: Titans RB ‘definitely’ wants to stay in Tennessee

While down in Orlando at the Pro Bowl, running back Derrick Henry expressed his desire to stay with the Tennessee Titans.

If it were up to him, running back Derrick Henry would like to stay with the Tennessee Titans.

Henry, who was drafted by the Titans in the second round (No. 45 overall) of the 2016 NFL Draft, had his best year as a pro in 2019 after winning the rushing title with a career-high 1,540 yards, and his 16 rushing touchdowns was tied for tops in the NFL.

After a stellar regular season, Henry went on to torch the New England Patriots and Baltimore Ravens in the wild card and divisional rounds, respectively, to the tune of 377 yards on the ground. His sensational performances helped carry the Titans to the AFC title game.

Following the defeat at the hands of the Kansas City Chiefs, the 26-year-old wasn’t ready to talk about his future or contract situation just yet, except to say that “when that time comes, I am sure it will get worked out.”

When asked again about his future with the Titans on Wednesday down in Orlando while preparing for the Pro Bowl, Henry told ESPN’s Dianna Russini (video courtesy of WKRN’s Kayla Anderson) that he’d “definitely like to stay in Tennessee”.

The Titans have a few options with Henry during the offseason. They can use either the franchise or transition tags, or simply sign him to a long-term deal outright.

NFL teams have been increasingly wary of signing running backs to a second contract that involves multiple years and a lot of money, as those contracts tend to not work out well in the end because of the short shelf life of the position.

It remains to be seen if the Titans will fall into that category, but if anyone has earned the right for such a deal, it’s Henry. Spotrac estimates Henry’s market value at four years for $55.3 million, which works out to $13.8 million annually.