Derrick Henry signs 4-year deal to remain in Tennessee for the foreseeable future. The Tennessee Titans and star running back Derrick Henry have reached agreement on a four-year, $50 million contract that includes $25.5 million guaranteed. Derrick Henry lead the league in rushing last year and almost guided the Titans to the Super Bowl. They fell to the eventual champion, Kansas City in the AFC Championship game. The Titans have announced the deal is official but didn’t include the terms. In one offseason, the Titans have now reached new deals with Henry and quarterback Ryan Tannehill. Henry’s contract, which averages $12.5 million per year, makes him the NFL’s fifth-highest-paid running back, trailing only the Panthers’ Christian McCaffrey ($16 million), the Cowboys’ Ezekiel Elliott ($15 million), the Jets’ Le’Veon Bell ($13.1 million) and the Texans’ David Johnson ($13 million).
This agreement marked a change in plans, as a source said Tuesday that the sides were not expected to reach a long-term deal by Wednesday’s 4 p.m. ET deadline for franchise players. Of all NFL running backs with at least 200 carries last season, Henry’s 5.1 yards per carry was the highest. Entering the AFC Championship Game, Henry had accounted for 69% of the team’s total offense. During Tennessee’s run into the playoffs, Henry also became the first player to rush for 180 or more yards in three consecutive games. The fourth-year running back took on more of a leadership role with the Titans last season, drawing praise from Coach Mike Vrabel.
Since being selected in the second round of the 2016 draft out of Alabama, Henry has rushed for 3,833 yards on 804 carries (4.8 YPC) and scored 38 touchdowns. He also has caught 57 passes for 578 yards and three touchdowns. He won the Heisman Trophy in 2016.
