Is Tennessee Titans running back Derrick Henry looking for an Ezekiel Elliot-type contract in free agency?
One of the biggest priorities of the offseason for the Tennessee Titans will be trying to figure out a way to keep running back Derrick Henry in Nashville for 2020, and possibly beyond.
The Titans have a few options at their disposal. They could opt to use the transition or franchise tag on the Alabama product, or simply work out a long-term deal with him.
As far as a contract is concerned, Henry told Rich Eisen that the floor for a contract would be what Ezekiel Elliot got from the Dallas Cowboys prior to the 2019 season.
Take a look.
"Zeke number is the floor." -@KingHenry_2 told us what he's expecting come #NFL free agency:#Titans #RESMiami #SuperBowlLIV pic.twitter.com/sXvCao4prk
— Rich Eisen Show (@RichEisenShow) January 31, 2020
That contract had the Cowboys pay the 24-year-old running back $90 million over six years, with $50 million guaranteed, making him the highest-paid player at his position in the NFL.
Now, before too much is made of Henry’s comment, just be aware that this is what Henry should be expected to say.
After all, he isn’t going to sell himself short in any way with a potential contract negotiation coming up with the Titans or any other team should he hit the open market.
Adding to that, this doesn’t mean that Henry realistically expects to be signed to a six-year pact. It is very likely he’ll at least be aiming to be the highest-paid back annually, but of course that can still occur in a deal that is shorter than Zeke’s.
The chances of Henry getting offered six years by any team is slim and none, as such a contract would take him past the age of 30 and NFL teams are increasingly wary of signing running backs to that kind of long-term deal that takes them past the dreaded number.
Henry, who is 26, would be 31 when the sixth year of such a deal starts.
Another thing working against Henry is that he hasn’t proven to be a consistent contributor in the passing game, which is something other high-paid backs like Elliot have done. That definitely hurts his case for getting Zeke money.
Spotrac has Henry’s market value at four years for $55.3 million, which works out to $13.8 million annually. That’s a much more realistic figure, and it’s likely the very best he could hope for would be a contract in the ballpark of four years and $60 million or so.