The 2021 NFL free-agent class of running backs could be one of the best in history depending on what happens over the next six months or so, but subtract arguably the league's top back from that potential list as reigning NFL rushing champion Derrick Henry signed a four-year extension worth a reported $50 million ($25.5 million guaranteed) with the Tennessee Titans before Wednesday's 4 p.m. ET deadline for players slapped with the franchise tag.
That the sides agreed to a deal was a minor surprise as reports were Tuesday that they were far apart with Tennessee very comfortable paying Henry, the last running back to win the Heisman Trophy in college football (with Alabama in 2015), around $10.7 million on the franchise tag this season and then potentially slapping him with the tag again next winter for roughly $2 million more.
Many teams are afraid of handing out long-term deals to running backs in the wake of huge mistakes by the likes of the Los Angeles Rams with Todd Gurley and the Arizona Cardinals with David Johnson, to name two. Both Gurley and Johnson landed on new teams this offseason because their contracts became such a burden to the Rams and Cardinals.
Henry won the NFL rushing title with 1,540 yards last season – he is a +600 favorite on the moneyline odds at William Hill sportsbook to repeat -- and his 5.1 yards per carry were first in the league among running backs who had at least 200 carries. In an eight-game span last year from Week 10 through the Divisional Playoffs, Henry rushed for 1,273 yards. That's the third-most rushing yards in any eight-game span (including playoffs) in NFL history
In 2018, Henry became the seventh NFL player since the 1970 merger with at least four rushing touchdowns and at least 200 rushing yards in a game and had the second 99-yard TD run in NFL history (all coming on Dec. 6, 2019, vs. Jaguars).
Henry also has proven himself a monster in the playoffs. He had 446 yards and two TDs in three games last year as the Titans reached the AFC title game, and 184 yards and a score in two games the postseason before. Henry had more rush yards over his first four career playoff games than any other player in NFL history.
Even with Henry off the market, these running backs are due to be free agents next winter: Saints' Alvin Kamara, Vikings' Dalvin Cook, Packers' Aaron Jones, Broncos' Phillip Lindsay, Bengals' Joe Mixon, Jaguars' Leonard Fournette, Cardinals' Kenyan Drake, Browns' Kareem Hunt, Chiefs' Damien Williams, Colts' Marlon Mack, Steelers' James Conner, Seahawks' Chris Carson, Falcons' Gurley and Dolphins' Matt Brieda. That's quite a group, although surely a few of those guys will re-sign/be extended or slapped with the tag.
Henry was the only running back slapped with the franchise tag this season. The other big name was Cowboys QB Dak Prescott, and he didn't agree to a long-term deal. Prescott will be one of 12 guys to play on the franchise tag in 2020. Other than Henry, only Chris Jones and the Chiefs agreed to a long-term deal.
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