The Tennessee Titans had all sorts of issues with their offensive line in 2023, but despite that the team’s running backs still managed to have productive seasons.
Derrick Henry finished with 1,167 yards and 12 touchdowns, ranking second and tied for seventh, respectively, in the NFL. His backfield mate, rookie Tyjae Spears, tallied 838 yards from scrimmage and 435 rushing yards, ranking fourth and fifth among first-year backs, respectively.
While Henry and Spears proved to be a potent combo — and one can only imagine how much more potent they could’ve been with a better offensive line — the Titans are unlikely to keep them together.
We’ll cover why that is and much more in our 2024 offseason preview for the running back position.
Who's under contract?
Under contract: Tyjae Spears, Hassan Haskins
Spears was absolutely electric for the Titans during his rookie campaign and should be in line for a bigger role in 2023. Barring the Titans bringing Henry back, Spears will be the starter, but don’t expect him to be a bell cow like his predecessor (more on that shortly).
Haskins landed on season-ending injured reserve before the start of the season and was also in legal trouble that was eventually resolved when charges against him were dropped.
The former fourth-round pick, who has two years left on his rookie deal, wasn’t doing much in training camp before his injury. He figures to be nothing more than a camp body if kept.
Who's a pending free agent?
Pending free agents: Derrick Henry, Julius Chestnut (ERFA), Jonathan Ward
Henry is the biggest name on the Titans’ list of pending free agents for 2024, and while he and the Titans have both said the door is open to keeping this relationship going, chances are that won’t happen.
For starters, Henry has sounded like someone who doesn’t expect to be back and he’s stated that winning a Super Bowl is paramount, something the Titans are unlikely to give him a chance to do in 2024.
Adding to all that, I can’t imagine that a rebuilding team like the Titans that is switching to a more pass-heavy approach under a new head coach will want to spend the kind of money it’ll take to retain the 30-year-old running back. Had Tennessee kept Vrabel, it would have been more likely.
When you remove the sentimentality from it all, a divorce is what’s best for both sides, so I’d expect to see Henry playing elsewhere in 2024.
Chestnut was one of the bigger surprises on the Titans’ initial 53-man roster, but unfortunately for him, he suffered a season-ending injury in Week 3. The UDFA is an exclusive rights free agent, so the Titans will have some control.
Ward was on track to make the team out of training camp before suffering his own injury. He was eventually brought back when healthy and contributed mostly on special teams.
Neither one will make a big difference, but if the Titans want to bring them back as camp bodies to compete for a role, go for it.
Biggest needs
Biggest needs: A complementary back to Spears
With the NFL moving to more two-headed backfields in recent years, I don’t expect Spears to be a bell cow for Tennessee the way Henry was. He will, however, be considered the starter.
The Titans aren’t going to find another Henry, but they do need someone like him who can run between the tackles and be the short-yardage and goal-line specialist.
In keeping with the notion that the Titans won’t want to spend a lot of money on the position, look for Tennessee to add a back in the 2024 NFL draft, along with some cheap options in free agency to compete for a role.
Check out our other preview!
