Derrick Henry signed with the Baltimore Ravens in free agency, and pairing him with two-time NFL MVP Lamar Jackson seems like a natural fit.
However, even Henry himself acknowledges that despite how attractive of a destination the Ravens were, he thought that another team could have been an even more ideal landing spot for him — the Dallas Cowboys.
Derrick Henry Admits To Being Interested in Cowboys
As he gets acclimated to his new surroundings in Baltimore, Henry knows he found himself in a great spot. However, in pure proximity — and probably understanding a need as well — he acknowledged to the hosts of The Pivot that Dallas was a “perfect scenario.”
“I knew once free agency started that I wanted to work something out [with the Ravens] if we could,” Henry said recently on the podcast. “Even though I’m living in Dallas and Dallas being a perfect situation, as well, because we lived there, we ain’t got to move…”
“They ain’t holla at me at all,” Henry stated when asked if the Cowboys were ever in play for his services.
“It would’ve been crazy,” Henry stated. “I thought it’d been some type of reach out, some type of talks or whatever. They never reached out, you know what I’m saying? I don’t really know too much about their organization.
“All I know is what I hear. I was talking to my agent. They weren’t really interested. It is what it is. Like I said earlier, I’m gonna be where I’m gonna be, and I feel like Baltimore was the perfect spot.”
It’s clear that the Cowboys are heading in a different direction this offseason, especially with their allocation of funds at the RB position. But to see one of the top running backs on the open market want to be a part of your team, and there be no interest or reach out whatsoever, is a bit eyebrow-raising.
Derrick Henry’s Contract Details
According to Spotrac, Henry signed a two-year, $16 million contract, including a $7.79 million signing bonus, with $9 million guaranteed, and an average annual salary of $8 million per year with Baltimore.
At 30 years old, Henry is now the eighth-highest-paid running back in the NFL by average annual salary. Of the top 10 highest-paid running backs, Henry is the only one that’s at least 30 years of age.
Considering the devaluing of the RB position, especially for aging players, this is a nice payday for Henry as he enters his ninth NFL season.
Cowboys’ RB Depth Chart
On the surface, just looking at the Cowboys’ RB room tells you that adding Henry would have been an obvious upgrade. However, with their change in philosophy at the position, the amount of spending Dallas wants to allocate to the RB1 spot simply wouldn’t allow it.
Currently, the Cowboys have last year’s RB2, Rico Dowdle, penciled in as the starter with next to nothing as far as experience goes behind him — names that include Deuce Vaughn, Malik Davis, and Snoop Conner.
There has been rumored interest between the team and old friend Ezekiel Elliott, but whether they add a veteran piece or not, the feeling remains that Dallas will look to solidify the position by way of the draft.
It’s an unsettled position right now for a Cowboys team that had once prioritized the position. Yet, 2024 signals a change, and what that exactly looks like remains to be seen.
KEEP READING: Former NFL Champion Rips Cowboys, Jerry Jones for Lack of Leadership