According to sources in the NFL, the Tennessee Titans have communicated to Derrick Henry that they have no immediate plans to trade him despite receiving inquiries from other teams interested in the Pro Bowl running back. However, this assurance does not necessarily rule out the possibility of a trade by the approaching 4 p.m. ET deadline on Tuesday; it’s simply an indication of their current intent.
Many within the league believe that, given Henry’s significance to the Titans, it would be reasonable for the organization to explore potential trade options. Henry is on an expiring contract and is set to become a free agent after this season. Moreover, with Henry turning 30 in January and a remaining salary of $6.4 million for this season, accommodating his contract might not be straightforward for another team.
While there has been speculation linking Henry to the Dallas Cowboys, sources indicate that the Cowboys have not expressed any interest in trading for the NFL’s 2020 Offensive Player of the Year.
Should a trade involving Henry materialize, it would likely require an agreement to modify his contract for salary cap considerations by the end of the day on Monday. This is a crucial requirement as it precedes the NFL’s trade deadline by 24 hours.
Thus, while the Titans have informed Henry of their reluctance to trade him, the situation remains fluid, and the pivotal moment will be at 4 p.m. on Monday. Despite Henry’s notable achievements and abilities, the level of interest in him across the NFL is somewhat muted due to factors such as his age, production, expiring contract, and cost for the remainder of this season.
This season, Henry has accumulated 425 rushing yards and scored three touchdowns in six games, although his yards per carry average of 4.3 is the lowest it has been in a single season since 2017. Notably, Henry boasts 8,760 career rushing yards, the highest among active players.
Earlier in the week, the Titans made a significant trade by sending two-time Pro Bowl safety Kevin Byard to the Philadelphia Eagles in exchange for safety Terrell Edmunds and two draft picks. The Titans, with a current record of 2-4, have faced a challenging start to the season and will be playing against the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday, with quarterbacks Will Levis and Malik Willis stepping in for the injured starter, Ryan Tannehill.
