The start of a new NFL offseason is here and this year’s free agency class is absolutely loaded with running back talent. Among those backs is none other than Derrick Henry, who looks set to hit the open market for the first time. Could the Eagles be a suitor?
Bookies.com oddsmaker Adam Thompson has made a hypothetical odds model to determine where Derrick Henry will be playing next season. To the surprise of very few, the Philadelphia Eagles are among the favorites to land the 4x Pro Bowler.
NFL Odds: Eagles +425 to land Derrick Henry
Las Vegas Raiders +375 (21.1%)Baltimore Ravens +500 (16.7%)
The Philadelphia Eagles don’t typically spend heavily at the running back position, but Howie Roseman stated ahead of the NFL Combine that he will be aggressively pursuing players for 2024. This could include adding one of the most decorated backs in football if the price is right.
Derrick Henry has led the NFL in rushing attempts three times, so there is certainly a sense of caution when it comes to paying a back that has been worn down brutally over the years. He will be 30 years old next season and that could prompt a cheaper price tag for Henry, especially when looking at some of the other names on the open market.
Every Eagles running back not-named Kenny Gainwell is currently set to become a free agent of some kind. It’s plausible that the Eagles take a flier on Henry, especially if his value in league circles is seen as diminishing. They did a similar thing with LeGarrette Blount back in 2017, although, Henry is by far the more accomplished back.
Should the Eagles take a shot?
By this point, Derrick Henry has proven his salt as an NFL running back. He had 1,538 rushing yards in 2022 despite injury concerns, and even in a ‘down-year’ one season later, he put up the second-most rushing yards of any running back in the NFL. There is still more gas in the tank.
If he wants to win a ring, running behind that Eagles offensive line might just be the perfect spot. The Raiders and Texans might offer more money, but the Birds are primed for a Super Bowl run and his workload would be lighter due to the rushing ability of Jalen Hurts and the versatility of Kenneth Gainwell. The move makes sense from a few different angles, but will it come to fruition?
AP Photo/Charlie Riedel
