With the report the Titans are shopping Derrick Henry, he’s being tied to the Detroit Lions. But does it make any sense?
As the NFL offseason pushes toward a fever pitch, Mike Silver of Bally Sports reported the Tennessee Titans are shopping running back Derrick Henry. A deal actually happening is a different story, but there will certainly be a chunk of teams interested in the two-time league rushing champ.
The lists of possible destinations for Henry are naturally coming out. Cory Woodroof of USA TODAY’s For The Win had five teams, including the Detroit Lions.
While it might be a bit surprising to see the Detroit Lions on this list, the team’s playoff window is opening, and the team might be interested in making a splash for its offense. The Lions could send running back D’Andre Swift to Tennessee along with a 2023 third-round pick and take on Henry’s contract.
Henry would be an outstanding fit in what the Lions like to do on offense, and this trade could give Swift a new team to play for ahead of 2024 free agency. The Titans could be first in line to extend him if he impresses in Nashville.
POTENTIAL TRADE OFFER: The Lions send Swift and a 2023 third-round pick to Tennessee for Henry.
The idea of the Lions trading Swift this offseason is certainly not a new concept to us here, and a third-round pick as well doesn’t feel like a ridiculous trade offer.
Rob Leeds of A to Z Sports also tabbed the Lions as a possible landing spot for Henry.
The Lions were able to field one of the best offenses in the NFL last season, and if this fact already wasn’t impressive enough on its own, the team was able to do this with limited efficiency in the run game at various points.
When you add in the fact that the Lions could move on from their top two running backs over the coming weeks, you start to see an obvious hole that needs to be addressed before this team starts competing for the division.
NFL Rumors: Does Derrick Henry make any sense for the Detroit Lions?
First off and obviously, the Lions making a deal for Henry is predicated on Jamaal Williams leaving in free agency. And, perhaps if not likely, trading Swift. But let’s move the conversation to a focus on Henry.
If not for missing nine games in 2021 due to a foot injury (219 carries in eight games), it’s safe to assume Henry would be the league leader in carries four years running. He even did it despite missing one game last season (349 carries). He’s also 29 years old, and limited work he had early in his career is long out the window as a conversation piece about “tread left on the tires.”
Henry’s contract has to be noted in any trade conversation. He has one year left on his deal, with a $16.36 million cap hit. So he may fit best as a final piece or a centerpiece for some teams who are looking to notably bolster their ground game. It’s hard to say the Lions quite fit that bill, with needs on the defensive side of the ball that are more urgent.
If things break a certain way, there would be a theoretical opening for the Lions to trade for Henry. The idea of him running behind one of the league’s best offensive lines is interesting on the surface.
But ultimately, it’s just hard to see a great match with Henry and the Lions and it’s hard to see how there’d be significant interest on the team’s end.