Titans’ Offseason Positional Preview: Running Backs
NASHVILLE — The Tennessee Titans running back position doesn’t get a lot of attention when we collectively talk about the offseason ahead and for good reason. Derrick Henry is on the team and with the workload he commands, there isn’t much mystery to solve as to what the group will be next year. However, Dontrell Hilliard was a key piece before getting injured last year and Henry himself could play a big role in how the Titans navigate the financial aspect of the offseason.
Under Contract
Derrick Henry - $16.3 Million Cap Hit
Derrick Henry was still one of the best running backs in the NFL last season even with the awful offensive line play he was forced to run behind. Henry went for 1,538 rushing yards with 13 touchdowns on the ground. Henry even set career highs as a receiver with 33 catches for 398 receiving yards. He is still a dominant offensive weapon, but his cap hit is far too high for the Titans.
Henry doesn’t seem to be in danger of being cut, but the Titans would be wise to extend Henry in someway to lower that cap hit to something more manageable. Henry doesn’t have any guaranteed money left on his contract after the season so it would be in Henry’s best interest to re-negotiate his deal to ensure some future cash as well. It seems logical to expect some work on Henry’s contract, but that he will be back to being the “King” in Nashville next year.
Hassan Haskins - $1 Million Cap Hit
Haskins was a solid role player for the Titans in his rookie season. He provided value as a pass protector on third downs and also made a big impact on special teams. As a late round draft pick, that is exactly what he was expected to do. As an actual running back who, you know, runs the ball, Haskins looked shaky. Haskins had 25 carries for 93 yards on the ground and 11 catches for 57 yards. Haskins would need to improve in a major way to factor into the offensive plan in 2023. Even if he doesn’t, his value on special teams should keep him on the roster.
Julius Chestnut - $870k Cap Hit
Chestnut was a far better runner of the ball than Haskins. We saw that in the preseason, but Chestnut still made little impact on the Titans’ offense. He had 9 carries for 12 yards on the year and three catches for 41 yards. Chestnut doesn’t add any value on special teams either so it is reasonable to think the Titans either move on from Chestnut or bring him back solely for a training camp invite. Chestnut has no guaranteed money on his deal so whatever the Titans decide to do won’t have too many serious consequences.
Jonathan Ward - $1 Million Cap Hit
Ward will be cut by the Titans and may be brought back as a camp invite considering he has no guaranteed dollars on his deal. He was a late season addition due to injuries. Ward played in three games for the Titans. He carried the ball five times for 25 yards and caught two passes for seven yards. Ward played 30 special teams snaps for the Titans and if he hopes to latch on the roster after camp, he will need to continue to improve on kick coverage teams.
Pending Free Agents
Dontrell Hilliard
Hilliard was a big factor in the Titans’ offense last year. Hilliard had 22 carries for 145 rushing yards, but really shined in the passing game. Hilliard had 21 catches for 177 receiving yards and led the Titans in receiving touchdowns with four. While that is nice for Hilliard, that is disastrous for the Titans’ offense. Your back up running back cannot have the most touchdown catches on the team. Hilliard was so important to the offense that he had to stop returning kicks. Which limits his value. While bringing Hilliard back would make some sense, with all the talent at running back in the mid to late parts of the draft, hard to pay a veteran like Hilliard nearly two million while also paying so much for Henry. Would seem wise to draft a running back late who could help in the pass game at a much cheaper rate.
Trenton Cannon
Cannon played in two games for the Titans and missed most of the season with injury. He was supposed to be the Titans’ main kick returner and maybe add some value as a third down back. However, Cannon never got the chance to do that and as with Hilliard, you would think the Titans could find a player like Cannon for a lot cheaper in the draft. A younger player who, doesn’t get hurt as often. Maybe you bring Cannon in on a camp invite and see if you can get what you expected in 2023, but Cannon seems like the exact kind of player the Titans need to move away from in favor of younger options.
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