When the Green Bay Packers selected AJ Dillon in the 2nd spherical of the 2020 draft, there were hopes that he should emulate the powerhouse running fashion of Derrick Henry.However, these expectations fell short, and as Dillon approaches free corporation after an underwhelming fourth season with the Packers, the team may be on the lookout for a new bruising presence to complement Aaron Jones’ agility in the backfield.
Could Derrick Henry be the answer?
With Henry also set to hit free business enterprise and the Tennessee Titans undergoing a teaching transition under Brian Callahan, there’s speculation that Henry ought to be in search of a new domestic this offseason.DraftKings Sportsbook’s next-team odds recommend the Packers have a reasonable risk of acquiring Henry in free agency.Henry, at 30 years old, is coming off another wonderful season, tallying 1,167 dashing yards and 12 touchdowns. Despite some decline in production, Henry has surpassed the 1,000-yard mark in 5 of the final six seasons, demonstrating his regular dominance in the league.
While his averages have slightly dipped in recent years, Henry’s influence stays significant. In 2023, he ranked eighth in yards after contact and eleventh in broken tackles amongst going for walks backs with at least 100 dashing attempts, in accordance to Pro Football Focus and Sports Info Solutions, respectively.In NFL history, Henry ranks 36th in dashing yards and 13th in rushing touchdowns, highlighting his vicinity among the elite runners of the game.
Notably, Packers head instruct Matt LaFleur, formerly the offensive coordinator for the Titans, witnessed Henry’s breakout seasons in 2019 and 2020 firsthand. This familiarity ought to make Green Bay an appealing vacation spot for Henry.However, the Packers face salary-cap constraints, with projections suggesting a attainable one-year contract for Henry really worth round $10.3 million, as per Spotrac.
Despite being one of the youngest groups in the NFL last season, the addition of a veteran presence like Henry alongside Aaron Jones would offer a stark distinction and probably elevate the Packers’ ground sport to new heights.Â
