Pros and Cons of Trading Derrick Henry for the Titans

With Kevin Byard's untimely departure from Tennessee falling through yesterday, the Derrick Henry trade rumors are ramping up once again. Though many in the fanbase are divided over the topic, a decision about Henry's Future in Nashville must be made soon. Let's look at some of the pros of trading Henry while also going over some cons…

PRO= TRADE HENRY

CON= DON'T TRADE HENRY

PRO: 2024 Cap Space

After the Byard trade, the Titans are projected to have the second most cap space in the NFL, with over $99 million. If Tennessee moved Henry by the deadline, the number would skyrocket to over $100 million. With the number of holes on this Titans’ roster, cap space for the future is vital to building the infrastructure of the team backup. Trading Henry would help the Titans assemble that solid foundation for the future, and Tennessee would have a boatload of cash to spend in 2024…

CON: The Business Side

Moving off Derrick Henry would have immense ramifications in the business aspect. At the end of the day, the NFL is a business, and the overall goal for an owner is to see the stadium sold out. If Tennessee trades Henry, no one in Nashville would be motivated to go to the games, and ticket sales would drop dramatically. There would be no interest in the Titans, and the organization would go through an economic meltdown with their marketable star being shipped off in the middle of the year. The NFL is business, and Derrick Henry is one of the only things that provides revenue for the Titans...

PRO: Tyjae Spears RB1 Season

The rookie out of Tulane has been an impressive change of pace back for the Tennessee Offense this season. Spears' ability to evade defenders and catch the ball out of the backfield has been refreshing to watch, as it's been a while since the Titans have had an excellent backup for Henry. If Tennessee were to deal Henry, Tyjae would be thrust into the RB1 role, and more eyes would be on the 22-year-old. He's been immaculate to begin the season, but I've seen many question Spears' ability to be a three-down back. Can he be the bell cow of a team? Can he handle 20 carries a game in this Smashmouth Titans' Offense? We'll find out if Derrick Henry is gone by Halloween...

CON: The End of an Era

The fan in me wants Henry to be a Tennessee Titan for eternity. Derrick annihilating NFL Defenses on Sundays has been memorable to watch, and his playoff run in 2019 is still one of the most underrated in league history. Though Mike Vrabel deserves a bunch of credit for this winning era of Titans' Football, the success of this franchise over the last half-decade revolves around one man: King Henry. Seeing him go would be like putting a sharp knife through my heart and would be one of the saddest days of my Titans' Fandom…

CON: Would Ruin the Development of Levis

We all hope that Will Levis is the Franchise QB this organization has been seeking for over 20 years, but he can't do it all by himself right out the gate. If Tennessee trades Derrick Henry at the deadline, then Levis' job is going to be much more challenging because he isn't going to have an elite run game. Levis would have to shoulder much of the offensive load on Sunday versus the Falcons and for the rest of the season, which is a recipe for disaster. If the Titans want to develop Will Levis efficiently and effectively, keeping Derrick Henry would be in their best interest...

There are more cons than pros for a potential Derrick Henry trade. If the Titans get an offer they can’t resist, I'd be okay with moving him. Unless this dream offer is proposed, Derrick Henry should be a Titan for the rest of the season...

IMAGES FROM TITANS.COM