Derrick Henry's Near-Move to Dallas: A Missed Opportunity for the Cowboys
Close, but no cigar. Derrick Henry nearly found himself donning the star in Dallas instead of the wings in Baltimore. The star running back, who spends his offseason training in Dallas, signed a two-year, $16 million deal with the Baltimore Ravens, leaving Cowboys fans pondering what could have been. Henry's transfer from the Tennessee Titans marks a significant shift, having spent the first eight years of his career with the franchise.
Henry's debut performance against the Cowboys was nothing short of spectacular, rushing for 151 yards and two touchdowns in Baltimore's 28-25 win at AT&T Stadium. This crushing introduction not only highlighted Henry’s prowess but also underscored the Cowboys' ongoing struggles. This was the Cowboys' second consecutive home loss, starkly revealing their vulnerability.
The situation in Dallas is indeed dire when it comes to their ground game. With athletes like Rico Dowdle, Ezekiel Elliott, and Deuce Vaughn on their depth chart, the Cowboys ranked 25th in rushing for the first two weeks of the season. Their woes continued into Week 3, managing a meager 51 yards on the ground.
One might wonder why the Cowboys did not push harder to acquire Henry, especially given his offseason presence in the city. The answer lies partly in their financial restraints. "We couldn’t afford Derrick Henry," said Cowboys' owner Jerry Jones. This candid admission highlights the financial tightrope Dallas is walking. The Cowboys decided to wait on extensions for key players like wide receiver CeeDee Lamb and quarterback Dak Prescott, which left them with limited salary cap space.
Jerry Jones further elaborated the financial constraints: "I don't know. 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." He added that the issues don't solely lie with the running backs. "I wouldn't direct the running game and lack thereof or where we've been over the last three games to any one running back at all, because 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. This wouldn't be solved with just jumping over there and getting [Hall of Famer] Jimmy Brown."
The Cowboys' limitations are now laid bare, and the decision to pass on Henry might be seen as prudent given their financial situation. But it’s a missed opportunity to bolster a weak spot in their game. Henry’s presence in Baltimore has already provided the Ravens with a formidable running game, and his performance against Dallas illustrated just how impactful he could have been for the Cowboys.
For the Cowboys, it’s clear that the season ahead will require some significant adjustments to regain their competitive edge. Finding solutions to their running game problems will be crucial if they hope to avoid more stinging defeats and shift the narrative in their favor. As the season progresses, the spotlight will remain on how Dallas navigates these choppy waters, both on and off the field.