The Dallas Cowboys need a starting running back, and one of the best available in free agency wanted to join the franchise but they never even reached out to see if it was at all a possibility.
The Cowboys and owner/general manager Jerry Jones talked a big game heading into the offseason and made it seem like they would be players on the various markets to improve the roster. And after a third straight season with a 12-5 record and coming up well short of their Super Bowl goals, they certainly had the motivation.
However, over the first week of the new league year, the team has not done much. Furthermore, they now have a big hole at the running back spot after 2022 Pro Bowler Tony Pollard took his talents to the Tennessee Titans on the first day of free agency.
- Derrick Henry contract: 2 years, $16 million ($9 million guaranteed)
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Unfortunately, many of the best running backs up for grabs this year have all signed elsewhere. One of the most notable was Titans great Derrick Henry, who landed with the Baltimore Ravens — the same team that nearly traded for him before the trade deadline last year. While the four-time Pro Bowler will land with the Super Bowl contender he hoped for it seems he had eyes to bring his abilities to Dallas for 2024.
“That’s where I stay in the offseason,” Henry said during an appearance on Mad Dog Radio about Dallas. “I’m at the back end of my career. That’s a great organization. It would have been a great opportunity … I don’t really know what’s going on over there … Baltimore was showing the most interest, and it was somewhere I wanted to be, so I’m glad we got it done. But the Cowboys never called at all.”
- Derrick Henry stats (2023): 28 rushes, 1,167 yards, 12 touchdowns, 4.2 yards per carry
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Obviously, the Cowboys are cash-strapped this offseason and only have just over $2 million in cap space (via Over The Cap). However, dragging their feet on contract extensions for Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb hurt them in freeing up more space to where they could have signed a player like Henry. Someone who would have made a big impact on the team next season.