Titan Sized
FanSided

Is 2020 NFL Draft prospect A.J. Dillon the next Derrick Henry?

By Will Lomas

PITTSBURGH, PA - NOVEMBER 30: AJ Dillon #2 of the Boston College Eagles in action during the game against the Pittsburgh Panthers at Heinz Field on November 30, 2019 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images)
PITTSBURGH, PA - NOVEMBER 30: AJ Dillon #2 of the Boston College Eagles in action during the game against the Pittsburgh Panthers at Heinz Field on November 30, 2019 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

This is probably the player most likely to be taken by the Tennessee Titans in the 2020 NFL Draft.

It isn’t any secret that the Tennessee Titans value two things more than most: production and connections to the current coaching staff.

So when you see a player who leads his conference in rushing yards and who plays football with the son of Titans HC Mike Vrabel, your draft senses should start tingling.

Pouring even more gas on the fire is when that player is being compared to a star player that you might lose in free agency either now or next year.

Well all of that is the case with Boston College running back A.J. Dillon who was compared to Derrick Henry this morning by one of the staples of the draft community Dan Kadar:

"Titans running back Derrick Henry captured the hearts of the football nation last season, carrying his team to the AFC Championship Game. It’s impossible to find a back built like Henry considering he’s 6’3 and 250 pounds. The closest running back in this draft that combines size and explosiveness is Dillon.Dillon has speed and power despite being 250 pounds, and finished his college career with 4,382 yards and 38 touchdowns on the ground."

Dillon is probably more of what Tennessee Titans fans thought they were getting in the 2016 NFL Draft when they got Henry. What I mean is, Henry has always been an incredibly explosive player once he gets a head of steam but it took him a long time to become a punishing running back.

While Dillon has some of that wiggle and desire to get to the outside, he also isn’t afraid to take the ball from the QB at full speed and get behind his pads whether there is a hole created by the offensive line or not.

Obviously I am not going to say that there is any running back in the draft class exactly like Derrick Henry because “Tractorcito” is one of a kind. However, if you want a massive running back who has shown the ability to stay productive despite being the only real threat on an offense, Dillon is a great prospect to draft on Day 3 if you can get him.

Home/Titans Draft