Could the New England Patriots sign running back Derrick Henry in the coming weeks?
The Patriots are in need of all sorts of help offensively. They need a quarterback. They need receivers. They need some linemen. And they need some assistance in the rushing attack.
Enter Henry, who is getting set to be one of the top halfbacks available in free agency next week.
Nick Shook of NFL.com has matched New England with Henry, citing the fact that he could be a big aid to an incoming rookie quarterback that could use a bell cow running back to carry the load.
But how much sense would that actually make for Henry?
Henry spent the first eight years of his career with the Tennessee Titans, and one of the primary reasons why there is essentially no chance of him re-signing with the team this offseason is because he wants to play for a contender.
That’s why clubs like the Baltimore Ravens and Miami Dolphins have been mentioned as potential destinations for Henry, who has missed the playoffs each of the last two years with the Titans.
The Pats went just 4-13 this past season and have made the postseason just once over the last four years, so they don’t really check the boxes Henry is looking for.
It seems much more likely that Henry would sign a rather cheap one-year deal with a contender at this stage of his career. He is 30 years old, and while he is still productive, he is certainly not the same elite rusher he was earlier in his career when he led the NFL in both rushing yards and rushing touchdowns in back-to-back campaigns in 2019 and 2020.
The University of Alabama product registered 1,167 yards and 12 touchdowns while averaging 4.2 yards per carry in his final season in Tennessee, earning his fourth Pro Bowl selection.
Yes, the Patriots are definitely in need for a better running back, and they may be interested in Henry, but will Derrick Henry be interested in them?
Probably not.
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