Alabama Product Derrick Henry's Future Still Undecided According to Titans General Manager

Former Crimson Tide running back Derrick Henry was not franchise tagged by the Tennessee Titans.

INDIANAPOLIS — The future of former Alabama running back Derrick Henry's NFL career is undoubtedly uncertain but not quite decided.

One day after ESPN reported that the Tennessee Titans will not be using the franchise tag on former Alabama running back Derrick Henry, Titans head coach Brian Callahan and general manager Ran Carthon spoke to the media about Henry's future. 

Callahan, who was hired by the Titans in January, says that he has reached out to the former Heisman Trophy winner this offseason and is optimistic heading into negotiations.

“I’ve reached out," Callahan said on Tuesday at the NFL Scouting Combine. “I think that there’s a great relationship with him and the organization that I know he’s always going to have the Titans in his heart so whatever that looks like moving forward, we’ll keep working through it but I know what he means to the city and I’m looking forward to getting to know him.”

Carthon, in his second year as the team's general manager, is well aware of what Henry means to the Titans and the city of Tennessee but is not letting the situation distract him. 

“I hear that question around town a lot, people will come and the first thing they will say is ‘hey we’re not going to lose Derrick are we?’ In my 12 months on my job I’ve gotten more Derrick Henry questions than anything so I understand that piece of it too but I have a responsibility to build this team long term and we’ll cross that bridge with Derrick and his team when we get there.”

The Titans initially placed on the franchise tag on Henry in the 2020 offseason before agreeing to a four-year extension worth $50 million. The Titans utilizing the franchise tag on Henry this offseason would've put the running back on a one-year deal worth $11.951 million. 

The Titans not utilizing the tag this offseason on Henry might be indicative of their future plans with the former Crimson Tide player but it doesn't seem like either party is set on any option in negotiations.