Eagles & Derrick Henry: Making Sense of a Potential Trade
PHILADELPHIA - It gets more and more difficult to filter fact from fiction as the start of the 2023 NFL Draft opens on Thursday, so what to make of the Derrick Henry rumor that grew wings and flew to all corners of Philadelphia and its suburbs on Saturday?
If it were one of the league’s mouthpieces spouting the news, such as NFL Media or ESPN’s Adam Schefter, that would feel like a planted story by the Philadelphia Eagles to perhaps draw attention away from the fact that they aren’t interested in taking running backs Bijan Robinson or Jahmyr Gibbs.
Why? Just to mess with other teams, maybe?
Anyway, the point is the news didn’t come from a mouthpiece, but from someone unaffiliated with the NFL, Akbar Gbajabiamila, an author and host of Ninja Warrior. Gbajabiamila, though, shares an agency with Henry and Eagles receiver A.J. Brown.
Perhaps one of the reps mentioned to him that the Eagles and the Tennessee Titans were engaged in trade conversations regarding the talented running back.
Maybe Gbajabiamila jumped the gun because, on Saturday night, Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio dumped cold water on the rumor by tweeting that a trade isn’t happening.
It certainly is tantalizing to think about, even if it probably doesn’t make much sense if the Titans are looking for one of the two Eagles’ first-round picks – No. 10 or 30.
However, general manager Howie Roseman can never be underestimated at this time of year or any time of the year. There’s always the chance he tries to land Henry without parting with either of his first-round picks, in which case there very well could be a deal struck.
Last year, Roseman brought in a pair of veteran defensive linemen in Ndamukong Suh and Linval Joseph within a span of 48 hours after the Eagles suffered their first loss of the season after opening the year with eight straight victories.
The GM recognized that the Eagles had a shot at making a strong push to the Super Bowl, and he was right. That window is still open and Roseman likely still believes this year’s team can do it again, especially after rewarding quarterback Jalen Hurts with a $255 million contract extension.
Henry is a veteran who would make the Eagles' backfield with Hurts even scarier.
Being able to rotate the 6-3, 247-pound Henry with oft-injured Rashaad Penny and continuing to mix in third-down back Kenny Gainwell could be wildly effective for an Eagles team that loves to run the ball and had an NFL-record 39 rushing touchdowns last year.
It would also serve to keep Penny from having to play too many snaps and thereby, in theory, helping him stay healthy. Maybe even Henry’s snaps are lightened a bit to help him be more effective as he rounds the bend and hits 30 on January 4.
Henry has topped 300 carries in three of the last four seasons and that adds up to a lot of wear and tear. He is still remarkably effective, as evidenced by his 349 rushes for 1,538 yards and 13 touchdowns last season. He also added 33 receptions for 398 yards.
Still, it would seem to make more sense to simply draft Robinson or Gibbs, both of whom just turned 21 earlier this year and, presumably, whose bodies have many more miles to give.
Henry’s salary-cap charge is $16 million, most of which would likely have to be picked up by the Titans, and this is the final year of his contract.
The Eagles may have to reward him with another one, which probably wouldn’t be cheap.
Robinson or Gibbs, if taken in the first round, would give the Eagles control at a more manageable price tag over the next four to five years.
Not saying the Eagles are taking either college player, or trading for Henry, but it feels like now if they don’t do something to add to their backfield during the three-day draft or via the trade market, it would be a letdown.
Ed Kracz covers the Philadelphia Eagles for SI's EaglesToday.
Please follow him and our Eagles coverage on Twitter at @kracze.
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