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Titans, Cardinals use Tags on Derrick Henry, Kenyan Drake

Derrick Henry will remain with the Titans, who have until July 15th to reach a long-term deal
Christopher Walsh|
T.G. Paschal/Bama Central

The Tennessee Titans have used their franchise tag for 2020 on running back Derrick Henry on Monday morning, securing his return to the team for the upcoming season. 

The move keeps the 2019 NFL rushing leader from entering free agency year. The Titans have until July 15 to work out a contract with Henry. 

If they can't come to a deal, Henry will play the 2020 season for the franchise-tag value of $12.361 million.

Henry was a second-round selection in 2016, the 41st-overall pick. His initial four-year contract was worth $5.408 million.

At minimum, the move gives the team more time to negotiate a long-term contract. 

The move was first reported by the NFL Network, which also reported that the Arizona Cardinals applied the transition tag to running back Kenyan Drake. 

He can still negotiate with other teams, but the Cardinals can match any offer he gets in free agent. Per Over The Cap, the estimated transition tag for running backs is expected to come in at around $10 million.

After being traded by the Miami Dolphins, Drake ran for 643 yards and eight touchdowns over eight games, to go with 171 receiving yards on 28 receptions.

Both players were scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent on Wednesday. 

Last season, Henry led the NFL with 1,540 rushing yards and 16 touchdowns on 303 carries. He also 446 yards and two touchdowns on 83 carries in three playoff games, which also topped the league. 

Over the weekend the Titans announced they'd reached a contract agreement with quarterback Ryan Tannehill, who was also set to be a free agent. The deal was reportedly for four years for $119 million. 

Henry set both the Alabama and Southeastern Conference records with 2,219 rushing yards and 28 rushing touchdowns while leading the Crimson Tide to the 2015 national championship. In the process, he became the second player in program history to win the‪ Heisman Trophy.

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Christopher Walsh
CHRISTOPHER WALSH

Christopher Walsh is the founder and publisher of Alabama Crimson Tide On SI, which first published as BamaCentral in 2018, and is also the publisher of the Boston College, Missouri and Vanderbilt sites. He's covered the Crimson Tide since 2004 and is the author of 26 books including “100 Things Crimson Tide Fans Should Know and Do Before They Die” and “Nick Saban vs. College Football.” He's an eight-time honoree of Football Writers Association of America awards and three-time winner of the Herby Kirby Memorial Award, the Alabama Sports Writers Association’s highest writing honor for story of the year. In 2022, he was named one of the 50 Legends of the ASWA. Previous beats include the Green Bay Packers, Arizona Cardinals and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, along with Major League Baseball’s Arizona Diamondbacks. Originally from Minnesota and a graduate of the University of New Hampshire, he currently resides in Tuscaloosa.

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