TRip down Memory lane: When the Titans tried to Trade Derrick Henry in 2018

The Tennessee Titans season ended today, and you couldn't have asked for a more invaluable conclusion. The Two-Tone Blue outlasted the Jaguars 28-20 and eliminated Jacksonville from playoff contention. One of the only reasons people tuned into this game was to witness the likely farewell of legendary RB Derrick Henry. In his postgame press conference, the King stated that he would still be open to returning to the team in 2024, but his future in Nashville has never been more uncertain. The former Alabama standout has established himself as one of the greatest players in franchise history, but you probably forgot about the time Henry was almost traded in 2018!

During the first half of the 2018-19 season, ESPN's Chris Mortensen stated that the Titans shopped Derrick Henry at the 2018 NFL Trade Deadline and that the team was ready to ship off the running back if the price was right. Tennessee didn't find any takers and decided to keep Henry on the roster. At the time, Henry struggled to carve out a role on a Matt Lafleur-led offense. The third-year running back was extremely inefficient with his touches, and Dion Lewis, the former Patriot, seemed like a better fit for the offense. Derrick averaged 3.3 yards per carry in Tennessee's first seven games in 2018 and was a nonfactor in the offense. But who knew, five years later, that being placed on the trade block would ignite a fire in King Henry's system...

After being placed on the trading market, Henry averaged under four yards per carry once in the final nine games of the 2018 season and had his iconic game against the Jacksonville Jaguars. In 2019, Henry won the rushing title and led the Titans to the AFCG. The King became the eighth player in NFL history to run for 2,000 yards in 2020 and won the AP Offensive Player of the Year. The former Yulee High School legend has added to his resume these past few seasons, rushing for a couple more 1,000-yard seasons and breaking multiple franchise records. Derrick Henry has provided timeless memories, winning seasons, and playoff wins in his eight-year Titans career. But how different would this organization be if Jon Robinson decided to ship off the future Hall of Famer during the 2018 NFL Trade Deadline...

IMAGES FROM TITANS.COM, STATS FROM PFFR