Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports
On Thursday evening, the Tennessee Titans decided to release veteran running back DeMarco Murray. Originally reported by Field Yates of ESPN, this is a move that has topped off an eventful two day period.
The Titans are releasing RB DeMarco Murray.
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) March 8, 2018
Murray, a three time Pro-Bowler, goes from being a starting running back to a free agent looking for a job. The decision might have come out of nowhere for some, but the statistics began to speak for themselves last season.
Murray, who in 2016 ran for 1,300 yards and nine touchdowns on 293 carries, saw his production significantly decrease. The reason? The sensational running back, Derrick Henry, who is now the predicted starting back for the Titans next season.
Bringing Murray’s production from 1,300 yards and nine touchdowns to 659 yards and six touchdowns last season, you could see the Titans beginning to run away from Murray and running towards Henry.
It’s a simple move when you look at things, though. Henry is a rising back who is young, fresh, and powerful while Murray is a seven-year veteran on the last stretch of his career. Not to say that Murray can’t produce anymore, because he showed signs last season that he still has burst. However, when there’s a decision of a younger back and longer years versus a few short years, you’re going to choose the young back.
The #Titans have released RB DeMarco Murray. They are going with Derrick Henry as their lead back
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 8, 2018
With Henry in as the starter for Tennessee, it goes to wonder where Murray might land. Places like Indianapolis and Houston who could both use a good back to spur up an offense might be early landing spots for the veteran back. If Murray does land in the same division but with a different team, it’ll be interesting to see what he does against his former team, or if he even holds a grudge against the Titans.
