Mike Mularkey Reveals DeMarco Murray's Reaction to Titans Drafting Derrick Henry

One of the most interesting selections in the 2016 NFL draft saw the Tennessee Titans grab 2015 Heisman Trophy winner Derrick Henry in the second round Friday after having already swapped fourth-round picks with the Philadelphia Eagles to acquire running back DeMarco Murray earlier in the offseason. 

If anyone is interested in cooking up conspiracy theories, though, Titans head coach Mike Mularkey told reporters that Murray was on board with the addition of Henry to the backfield, per Jim Wyatt of the team's official website.

“First of all, he loved the pick," Mularkey said. “And he said, 'He’s going to make me better and I am going to do the same for him.' He said, ‘I’m going to do whatever I can to make him a great player.'”

Mularkey noted that he called Murray before the Titans took Henry because "there’s certain circumstances that you feel like it is necessary to make sure you are clear on the motive and why you are doing things."

Despite Henry's presence, Mularkey left no doubt that Murray will be Tennessee's No. 1 running back when the season begins:

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I told DeMarco, ‘Nothing has changed since we made the trade for you. You’re still going to be the guy who is going to carry the load for us and I know when you need to take a break and come off the field there will be no letdown when the next running back comes in, whoever that is.' That is our mindset and I told him that directly not long after we made that pick, that he was clear with the direction we were going to go with it.

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Even after the addition of Murray, Tennessee was doing its due diligence by adding a player it believes has a bright and long-term future at a position where injuries are commonplace. 

Murray has been susceptible to injuries throughout his career, playing a full 16-game season only once in five years. That year happened to be 2014, when he broke out with 1,845 yards and 13 touchdowns for the Dallas Cowboys.

Last year was a disaster from the start for Murray, who opted to sign with the Eagles for big money. He never fit head coach Chip Kelly's system and started only eight games, averaging a career-low 3.6 yards per carry. 

Henry is a unique talent out of the backfield. The former Alabama superstar is a monster at 6'3" and 247 pounds, bigger than a lot of linebackers. He gives the Titans depth at a position where it's necessary and can also provide additional protection for quarterback Marcus Mariota. 

The Titans didn't owe Murray an explanation for why they chose Henry early in the draft, but his response is an indication that it's not going to change anything for the team when training camp begins in July. 

A bruising running back tandem featuring Murray and Henry will be a nightmare for opposing defenses to try to stop. Add Mariota's diverse skill set into the equation, and suddenly Tennessee's offense looks better than last season's group.