NASHVILLE (AP) — Tennessee Titans running back Derrick Henry has signed a franchise tender that puts him under contract for the 2020 season as the team works toward reaching a long-term deal with the 2019 NFL rushing leader.
Team officials announced Thursday that Henry had signed the tender. The Titans gave him a franchise tag March 16, a move that means he will be paid $10.2 million for the 2020 season unless they sign him to a long-term deal by July 15.
Titans general manager Jon Robinson said during a Wednesday conference call that he spoke to Henry’s agents after the team tagged him.
Henry rushed for a league-leading 1,540 yards and averaged 4.8 yards per carry while earning his first Pro Bowl invitation last season. He also became the first NFL player to run for at least 180 yards in three consecutive games at any point in a season.
He rushed for 16 touchdowns during the regular season to tie Green Bay’s Aaron Jones for the league lead.
Henry, 26, won the 2015 Heisman Trophy and a national championship during his final season at Alabama as a junior before being taken by the Titans in the second round of the 2016 NFL draft. His rushing yardage has improved each of his seasons as a pro.
Photo credit – Michael Wyke / Associated Press / Houston, TX
