NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WZTV) —The Tennessee Titans have placed a non-exclusive franchise tag on running back Derrick Henry.
The franchise tag gives Henry the option to negotiate a contract with another team, but also allows the Titans to slide in and match the contract terms potentially offered by another team.
If the Titans choose not to match the other team's contract for Henry, they would be awarded two first-round draft picks as compensation.
The Titans still have until July 15th to talk out a long-term deal with Henry and replace the franchise tag, after which the player would have to stay under the one-year franchise tag for the 2020 season.
Henry led the NFL in rushing in 2019. According to the Titans, he was the only running back in the NFL to average more than 100 rushing yards per game this season. He ranked third in NFL with 18 total touchdowns, second in the AFC and fourth in the NFL with 1,746 yards from scrimmage.
"I want to stay with the Tennessee Titans," Henry previously said. "They are the ones that took a chance on me – 31 teams passed on me on the draft and they selected me. I have a lot of love for Tennessee. I have a lot of love everyone in that organization."
It's obvious that the Titans are making moves. The franchise tag announcement comes just one day after the team reached a multi-year deal to keep quarterback Ryan Tannehill.