Can Derrick Henry Be Spark Titans Need to Boost Rebuild Around Marcus Mariota?

Put simply, the Tennessee Titans are doing it right. They know what the formula is: Find a quarterback worth building around, and then give him as much protection and as many weapons as possible. And, fittingly, they’re following that to a T. 

The narrative surrounding that process hasn’t been perfectly clean. General manager Ruston Webster was fired at the end of the 2015 season despite the fact he drafted the quarterback, Marcus Mariota, and that quarterback’s top young wide receiver, Dorial Green-Beckham, last spring. 

But new GM Jon Robinson deserves credit for seeing that with Mariota, Green-Beckham and top 2014 pick Taylor Lewan on the roster, the foundation was already in place for the long-struggling Titans this spring. 

Robinson leveraged his team’s No. 1 overall pick into a slew of selections, giving Tennessee the freedom to jump around the draft board on Thursday and Friday. The result? Four picks in the top 45, two of which—No. 8 overall, used on former Michigan State offensive tackle Jack Conklin, and No. 45 overall, used on former Alabama running back Derrick Henry—should immediately help protect and serve Mariota, who was taken second overall last April.

You expect to get a high-end talent like Conklin in the top 10, though, which is why the Titans should be most excited about the fact they landed an equally talented prospect in that 45 spot.

Because Henry is special.

The reigning Heisman Trophy winner is a 247-pound smashmouth back coming off a 2,219-yard, 28-touchdown season in the toughest conference in college football. He punishes defenders with his brutish style, which is what makes him such a perfect addition to the Tennessee offense. 

The Titans are developing one of the meanest offenses in …

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