The Chicago Bears are in need of a more established running back, and they could find it in Derrick Henry in free agency this offseason.

Bet Tennessee projects the Bears (along with the Houston Texans) as having the best chance to land Henry this March, giving them +600 odds.

Chicago ranked second in the NFL in rushing offense this season, so you wouldn’t think the team would need a lot of help in its backfield. However, that number was inflated by quarterback Justin Fields, who led the team with 657 rushing yards. The Bears’ No. 1 halfback was Khalil Herbert, who totaled 611 yards.

Clearly, the Bears could stand to add a featured back, and while Henry may no longer be the same elite rusher from several years ago, he proved in 2023 that he could still be a No. 1 guy.

The 30-year-old played in every game with the Tennessee Titans this past season, registering 1,167 yards and 12 touchdowns while averaging 4.2 yards per carry en route to his fourth Pro Bowl selection. He also caught 28 passes for 214 yards.

Henry, who played his collegiate football at the University of Alabama, was selected by the Titans in the second round of the 2015 NFL Draft.

He was a bit of a late bloomer, as he didn’t truly break out until his fourth season. That was when he proceeded to lead the league in rushing yards and rushing touchdowns in back-to-back campaigns, topping out at 2,027 yards and 17 scores in 2020.

Henry has clearly declined a bit since then, and leading the NFL in carries in four of the last five seasons certainly hasn’t helped. Still, he could join a Bears backfield that already includes Herbert and Roschon Johnson and provide the club with a significant boost.

We’ll see if Chicago makes a serious play for Derrick Henry this spring.

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