Tennessee Titans, Derrick Henry shock NFL with massive new contract

By Will Lomas | Jul 15, 2020

NASHVILLE, TN - NOVEMBER 24: Head Coach Mike Vrabel congratulates Derrick Henry #22 of the Tennessee Titans after scoring a touchdown during the second half of a game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Nissan Stadium on November 24, 2019 in Nashville, Tennessee. The Titans defeated the Jaguars 42-20. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images) /

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(Photo by Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images) /

Comparing Derrick Henry’s new deal to other RBs

This was a great deal for Jon Robinson and I say that not only as someone who has a ton of respect for the GM, but as someone who hates the idea of paying running backs.

However, it does look like this is a deal below market value or at least below what the market value for a player like Henry will cost in a few years.

First, let’s take a look at the AAV (Average Annual Value) Derrick Henry’s deal, here are the top RBs in the NFL in AAV for the 2020 season:

-Christian McCaffery: $16 million AAV

-Zeke Elliott: $15 million

-Le’Veon Bell: $13.1 million

-David Johnson: $13 million

-Derrick Henry: $12.5 million

Just as a different look, here are the RBs who could reset the market before the end of this deal:

-Saquon Barkley

-Josh Jacobs

-Aaron Jones

-Dalvin Cook

-Alvin Kamara

-Nick Chubb

So there is a very real chance that by the end of this contract, Derrick Henry is barely one of the top-10 highest-paid RBs in the NFL.

For the centerpiece of the Titans offense, that is a small price to pay and it is a price that should mostly be paid upfront as far as the guarantees are concerned.

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