Former NFL star floats wild Derrick Henry trade scenario
Entering their Week 7 bye, the Tennessee Titans look far more like pretenders than contenders. Owning a 2-4 record, the Titans sit in last place in the AFC South while starting quarterback Ryan Tannehill could be on the mend for the coming weeks as he deals with a high right ankle sprain.
Tennessee's early season struggles have speculation of a fire sale on the horizon, with star running back Derrick Henry at the forefront of trade speculation. According to former three-time Pro Bowler Maurice Jones-Drew, four teams could make a run at the 2020 Offensive Player of the Year, including the Atlanta Falcons, who already boast one of the league's most talented backfields.
"The 29-year-old is a special player who could change the entire dynamic of an offense and is a shoo-in to rack up 1,000 yards on the season if he stays healthy," Jones-Drew wrote for NFL.com. "Teams who could make a play for the three-time Pro Bowler? The Buffalo Bills, Cincinnati Bengals, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Atlanta Falcons (which would mean a potential reunion with former Titans coordinator Arthur Smith)."
Six weeks into the regular season, Falcons rookie Bijan Robinson ranks 10th in the NFL with 401 rushing yards — just 24 yards fewer than Henry — and leads all running backs with 26 receptions. Sharing the backfield with Robinson in Atlanta is former 1,000-yard rusher Tyler Allgeier and Swiss Army knife Cordarrelle Patterson.
Ranking 10th in the NFL in team rushing yards per game (119.0), Henry is not a necessary acquisition for the Falcons at the deadline. With that said, sitting just a half of a game out of first place in the NFC South, the more Atlanta stays afloat in the playoff race despite a spotty passing game (212 YPG / 18th in the NFL), the more likely they consider further reinforcing their backfield.
While there are several playoff hopefuls that Henry could have a more profound effect on immediately, joining a team like Atlanta could prove most beneficial for the running back's longevity. Turning 30 years old in January, Henry is currently playing just 55.74% of the Titans offensive snaps, his lowest mark since 2018. Playing alongside Robinson in Atlanta would help Henry keep fresh legs throughout the season while allowing the Falcons to take further advantage of Robinson's blue-chip receiving skillset.
In the two seasons when Smith served as the offensive coordinator for the Titans, Henry led the NFL in both rushing yards and rushing touchdowns, totaling 3,567 yards and 33 scores on the ground from 2019-2020.
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