In the aftermath of a tough loss to the Baltimore Ravens, Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones dropped a bombshell: the team had the chance to sign All-Pro running back Derrick Henry during free agency but couldn’t afford him. Henry, who dominated the Cowboys with 151 rushing yards and two touchdowns in the Ravens‘ 28-25 victory, could have worn a Cowboys jersey this season, but Jones cited financial constraints as the reason it didn’t happen.
After eight standout seasons with the Tennessee Titans, Henry signed a two-year, $16 million deal with the Baltimore Ravens in March. Despite Henry’s interest in joining the Cowboys-where he trains during the offseason-Dallas ultimately passed on the opportunity. When asked about the decision, Jones explained,
We couldn’t afford Derrick Henry. Why can’t you buy a mansion when you live in a different kind of house? We couldn’t afford it. We can’t make that all fit. That’s as simple as that.
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The Cowboys were in need of a new running back after Tony Pollard left to join the Titans, but financial priorities prevented them from making the deal with Henry. It’s difficult for fans to believe that the Cowboys, a $10-billion franchise, couldn’t find the $8 million per year it would have taken to bring in Henry. Yet, the timing of contract extensions for key players like receiver CeeDeeLamb and quarterback Dak Prescott left Dallas with little cap space to work with.
Dallas opts for Ezekiel Elliott instead, Henry dominates
Without the budget for Henry, the Cowboys opted to bring back former star Ezekiel Elliott on a one-year, $3 million deal. Unfortunately for Dallas, this move didn’t pay off in their Week 3 matchup against the Ravens. Henry outshined the Cowboys‘ entire rushing game, tallying 151 yards and two touchdowns on 25 carries, while Dallas managed just 51 rushing yards as a team.
Jones acknowledged the team’s struggles but emphasized that their lack of a strong running game wasn’t just about one player. “It takes some offensive linemen to blow them out of there; it takes a passing game to keep them honest in the running game. It takes a lot of things to make that work,” he said.
Still, the reality remains: Derrick Henry could have been a Cowboy, but Dallas ran out of money at a critical time. Now, Henry and the Ravens are riding high while the Cowboys are left to wonder what could have been.
