NFL Rumors: Oakland Raiders Drafting Derrick Henry

NFL rumors have been swirling around Derrick Henry. He is regarded as the second best running back coming out of the college ranks. Several teams are interested in selecting him in the upcoming draft at the end of the month. Henry is considered to be a second round selection. The value of the position has dropped down the past couple of years. According to CBS Sports, there is a good chance that the Oakland Raiders select the Alabama Crimson Tide star on the second day of the NFL Draft.

Last season, Latavius Murray was the top running back for the Oakland Raiders. He rushed for 1,066 on 266 attempts. Murray had a solid season. The former Central Florida Knights star was very consistent for the Raiders. Outside of Murray, none of the running backs rushed for 100 yards for the entire season. The second leading rusher on the team was quarterback Derek Carr. Oakland will need to find some help for Murray.

Drafting Derrick Henry might be a good choice for the Oakland Raiders. The former Alabama Crimson Tide star is one of the most talked about backs in the NFL Draft. Henry averaged 5.6 yards per carry; he is very a smart runner; and he was one the most durable running backs in college football. Last season, he had almost 400 touches. Henry managed to stay healthy and steered clear of awkward falls or unnecessary damage. He has a chance to be a star in the NFL if he manages to stay healthy.

The Oakland Raiders could potentially have a trio like the Dallas Cowboys during their glory days. Dallas had Troy Aikman, Emmitt Smith, and Michael Irving. All three players have been inducted to the Hall Of Fame. The trio has three Super Bowls together. Last season, the combination of Derek Carr and Amari Cooper put up good numbers for their first year together. Adding Derek Henry gives them a running back who can potentially become a star. Both Henry and Cooper played together at the University of Alabama.

Last season, the Oakland Raiders offense showed improvement. The team brought in help for Derek Carr during the 2015 off season. They signed center Rodney Hudson to solidify the line and to protect the franchise quarterback. The Raiders then signed Michael Crabtree to give Carr an additional weapon at wide receiver. During the NFL Draft, Oakland selected Amari Cooper with the fourth overall pick in 2015.

The Oakland Raiders defense gave up a lot of yards last season. The team made it a priority to upgrade the defensive unit. The Raiders made splashes by bringing in Bruce Irvin and Sean Smith this off-season. Irvin signed a four year contract worth $37 million. He played under defensive coordinator Ken Norton, Jr. with the Seattle Seahawks for three years. Smith signed a four year deal worth $40 million. He played for the Kansas City Chiefs for the past three years. Smith has proven himself that he is a true number one cornerback in the NFL. The Raiders also signed Reggie Nelson to replace the retiring Charles Woodson.

The Oakland Raiders are now the favorite to win the AFC West. They were one of the teams to make major improvements on both sides of the ball. The Raiders signed Kelechi Osemele to protect franchise quarterback Derek Carr. The Denver Broncos have lost a lot this summer, the Kansas City Chiefs didn’t make any big splashes, and the San Diego Chargers didn’t make any moves this off season either.

The Oakland Raiders selecting Derek Henry gives the team a great running back. He could fit right in with Derek Carr and Amari Cooper. Bringing in Henry could potentially give the Raiders one of the best young cores on offense.