Running back Derrick Henry ran for 2,219 yards and 28 touchdowns while leading the Alabama Crimson Tide to a national title and securing the Heisman trophy this past season and while that wasn’t good enough to earn him a first-round grade according to pro scouts that doesn’t mean he won’t be selected in the opening round. Henry is clearly the top running back prospect on the board and there is every reason to believe a team will take a shot on him in the first round. Here is a look at the four teams most likely to target Henry in the 2016 NFL Draft.
Dallas Cowboys
Darren McFadden averaged 4.6 yards per carry while rushing for 1,089 yards and three touchdowns last season but he has struggled to stay healthy throughout his career and there is no doubt that the Cowboys will take a long look at Henry in the opening round of the NFL Draft. Dallas owns the fourth-overall pick and while they might not feel comfortable taking Henry that high they will still have the option of trading down if they feel they can take him later on and acquire another asset in the process. Tony Romo struggled to stay healthy last year so the Cowboys will need to find his successor soon but their offensive line is built to feature a dominant power rushing attack and they can bring in Henry as their thoroughbred workhorse early on in the NFL Draft and then concentrate on finding a potential future franchise quarterback later on.
New York Giants
It will be difficult for the Giants to avoid upgrading their pass rush with the 10th-overall pick but they might be tempted to take Henry in that spot. They’d have to have the understanding that he would immediately upgrade their offense as the workhorse running back that can produce big plays and take some of the pressure off of Eli Manning and the vertical passing attack. Rashad Jennings is coming off a rough season, Andre Williams is lead-footed plodder and Shane Vereen is nothing more than a third-down back that can catch passes out of the backfield. Henry is a more complete back than all of them. He’s a thoroughbred running back that can do it all for New York and he would immediately bolster an offense that was too one-dimensional at times last season.
Indianapolis Colts
Indianapolis’ search for a franchise running back will continue after veteran Frank Gore quickly ran out of gas a year ago and averaged just 3.7 yards per carry while failing to reach the 1,000-yard mark. Gore’s inability to consistently move the chains or break out with big runs really allowed opposing defenses to attack Andrew Luck in the pocket and he suffered some brutal injuries as a result of the constant sacks and hits he took this past season. The Colts undoubtedly understand the importance of keeping Luck healthy moving forward and one of the most important factors will be to find a franchise running back that can command the attention of opposing defenses and force them to respect the run. Henry fills the criteria perfectly so it won’t be a surprise if Indianapolis banks on him with their first round pick.
Tennessee Titans
The Titans won’t make Henry the first-overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft but that won’t mean they won’t either select him with the top pick in the second round or move up to try and select him towards the end of the opening round. Tennessee found its franchise quarterback in Marcus Mariota a year ago but now the key is to surround him with more weapons in order to help him succeed. That should start with improving the run game and Henry will represent a major upgrade over the team’s leading rusher from a year ago, Antonio Andrews. There is some optimism surrounding David Cobb but he had a tough time staying healthy this year while Andrews is just a pile-mover. As for Bishop Sankey, he might not even be back with the team next season. Dexter McCluster is locked in as the versatile pass catcher that can do a little bit of everything, but Henry would be the perfect fit as the workhorse running back that can lead the way for the Titans on the ground. And if the Titans pull it off, they’d have each of the last two Heisman Trophy winners in their backfield.
