Titans unlikely to reach long-term deal with Derrick Henry

The Tennessee Titans are not expected to reach a long-term deal with Derrick Henry by Wednesday's deadline, meaning that the running back will play the season as a franchise player.

Last season, Henry was arguably the best running back in the NFL, as he averaged over five yards per carry while leading the league with 1,540 yards rushing. Additionally, he had 16 rushing touchdowns. He was even better in the postseason, running for 446 yards in 3 games to help the Titans beat the Patriots and the Ravens on their way to the AFC Championship Game.

The timing was perfect for Henry, as he was set to become a free agent during the offseason. Rather than let Henry slip away, the team placed a $10.27 million franchise tag on him. He will become a free agent next offseason.

While the Titans have no interest in not having Henry in their backfield, they may be hesitant to sign Henry to a long-term deal given his position. After all, most running backs are known to fall off a cliff in terms of production before they hit 30. So even though Henry is an invaluable part of the team right now, they may not see him as a part of their big picture plans.

If Henry can have another monster season with the Titans, he's almost guaranteed himself a massive payday from Tennessee or any other number of teams that would love having a running back of his talent on their roster.