The Green Bay Packers are in the market for a running back and one of the best in recent NFL history is about to hit the open market.
Technically still a member of the Tennessee Titans, two-time rushing champion and four-time Pro Bowler Derrick Henry is now tied for sixth place in the sweepstakes. The odds were provided by Draft Kings Sportsbook, which updated its listing on February 13th.
Henry, who will become a free agent on March 13 if he doesn’t sign an extension with the Titans before then, was selected by the Packers at a price of +1000. That is a very unlikely scenario, as Henry, who is thirty years old, has stated that competing for and eventually winning a Super Bowl ring is one of his main reasons for playing for several more seasons.
Although it didn’t seem like it at times during the previous regular season, Green Bay is really among the better places for Henry to achieve that objective. According to ESPN Bet on February 11, the Packers and Houston Texans are tied for the tenth-best odds to win the 2025 Super Bowl.
Derrick Henry Remains Capable of Carrying Load, Can Replace Packers’ Rushing Attack on His Own
One fact about Henry is clear — he can still carry the load for a team’s rushing attack, and do so successfully, despite his age and eight years of NFL tread on his proverbial tires.
According to Pro Football Reference, Henry has been the league’s leading rusher in four of the last five seasons. Due to injuries, Henry only participated in eight games in the 2021 season, which was the only one in which he did not do so.
With the Titans in 2019 (1,540 yards and 16 touchdowns) and 2020 (2,027 yards and 17 touchdowns), the running back led the league in both categories. He was a Pro Bowler in all four of those seasons. Both of Tennessee’s seasons saw them qualify for the playoffs; during one run in the 2019 season, the Titans lost to the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Championship Game.
If Green Bay determines that their longtime starter Aaron Jones is too costly to retain, Henry, a Pro Bowler and the league leader in running attempts the previous two seasons, can step in and take his spot. Jones’ 2024 salary cap cost will be over $17.6 million, but the Packers may save $11.3 million if they trade or remove him before June 1.
Packers Can Offer Henry 2 Future Career Paths, Either of Which May Suit Him
Henry might want to take up more of the workload alone. However, the Packers might be able to provide him with a brief reprieve if he’s hoping to prolong his career and, consequently, his chances of winning a championship.
Backup running back AJ Dillon will be free to sign with another team next month. The NFL season he had the worst of since his rookie year recently ended. Green Bay can attempt to restructure Jones’ contract to lower his cap hit and add Henry after severing relations with Dillon.
By doing this, the Packers would have an older, but still formidable, 1-2 punch in the backfield, especially considering how well Jones performed while healthy at the conclusion of the season and how well Henry played the entire previous season. In the current NFL, when running backs are consistently undervalued, the two may be more than most teams are willing to invest on a pair.
However, Green Bay has shown more of a willingness to pay for that facet of offense than most. And while that may buck up against some analytics models, well-run teams have often found value in swimming against the current rather than with the rising tide of group think.
In January, the Packers front staff came within a bounce or two of the NFC Championship Game after dealing Aaron Rodgers and placing a large wager on quarterback Jordan Love. This demonstrated their willingness and efficiency in this area.
Henry would be a perfect fit for Green Bay this offseason thanks to his style of leadership, the team’s long- and short-term success, and the opportunity to be a key member of a young, strong offense.
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