Derrick Henry Draft Stock

wouldn't be surprised if he fell to the 3rd, honestly ...

If Denver doesn't resign Anderson, and finds a QB. I could see them taking Henry at the end of the first. He fits what Kubiak has always tried to do in the running game.

Is there bust potential with Henry? Absolutely. But let's be honest, a guy like Alfred Morris has been a successful NFL running back in a system like Kubiak's. Henry is on a whole different talent level than Morris.

Honestly, he best draft spot would probably be Dallas in the second round. Their oline would give him the space he needs to be successful. Plus, they don't have much talent running the ball right now. What they do have is either oft-injured, old, or both.

I think it's possible he goes late first. But likely mid to late second round. I don't know who just yet but I think someone we aren't thinking of yet ends up being the second RB taken. Henry ends up the third RB off the board is my prediction. And that's pretty darn good.

His bust potential is pretty high, but his stock has gone up. He's an absolute monster. Great person. And was VERY impressive at the combine. He looked pretty damn agile. He has the potential to dominate in the pass game.

I think he'll be more than fine.

My honest read on Henry in the NFL is that he cannot get drafted by a team that doesn't possess any run blocking talent, or he will not have great success. That doesn't mean he isn't a do it all back who can't make plays on his own. I'm saying that to have sustained success as a starting running back in the NFL, he needs to run behind a good line. On the flip side, if does find a team that knows how to create running lanes, I think he will be stellar. Yeah, he doesn't have feet like LeSean McCoy, and may not have the best "lateral quickness". But he's HUGE, fast, and he's durable. Also an added bonus, a good blocker. It is all about the system he gets plugged into.

quote:

---

I'm saying that to have sustained success as a starting running back in the NFL, he needs to run behind a good line.

---

That is basically what he said in his Pro-Day interview. "I just need a line". If you give him a lane, he will do some damage. Any NFL team that has issue with this needs to re-evaluate themselves. If you expect a runningback to do more than the offensive line can provide for him, then good luck.

People have been doubting him since high school. Many posters, on this very board, were convinced he was a future All-SEC linebacker the day we signed him. Not for a second did they believe he would succeed at the college level as a running back.

Not only did he succeed but he also broke SEC single season records for rushing yards and rushing touchdowns on his way to a Heisman Trophy.

Someone can look it up, but I'm pretty sure Blout ran about a 4.7 40 and was a good 10 pounds lighter out of college. At worst he is of similar size to Blount, but faster both in the hole and on upper end breakaway speed.

That can be the difference between a 700 yard back with a 3.7 yard average and a 1,000 yard back with a 4.2 yard average and the difference between a 5th rounder and a huge 2nd.

Face it, to compare Henry to a current/former player you have to call him a "faster X" or a "bigger Y." 15 years ago he's a top 3 pick, probably #2. In today's NFL he'll get less career carries and less per game and even the top RBs don't get paid 1/2 of elite QBs, CBs, LTs, or pass rushers, so they can be bought or traded for later on. I get it, 25 of the 32 first rounders will be QBs, guys who protect QBs, speed receivers with size to make QBs better, and guys who frustrate QBs. ILB, RB, Safeties, Guards, and even most WRs need to be projecred Pro Bowlers to even sniff the first round.

If he ever had a head of steam at the second level he took it to the house a very high percentage of the time. Shaun Alexander was the same way. If he got behind u he was going to the house. DH has that football speed where it seems like he is even faster when he is wearing pads.

Wouldn't be surprised? I'm fairly certain he's gonna go in the 2nd.