In a move that left many fans and analysts scratching their heads, the Dallas Cowboys failed to make any significant improvements to their running back situation after letting Tony Pollard walk in free agency. The Cowboys not only missed out on Pollard, who joined the Tennessee Titans, but they also completely fumbled their pursuit of NFL legend Derrick Henry.
The Tennessee Titans star, now with the Baltimore Ravens, could have been the answer to Dallas’ offensive woes, yet the Dallas Cowboys’ front office opted to stand pat with Deuce Vaughn and Rico Dowdle instead.
Their eventual fallback? Re-signing Ezekiel Elliott, who had been released by the team just a year prior. For a franchise seemingly stuck in win-now mode, this approach feels more like a desperate scramble than a well-thought-out strategy.
Stephen Jones’ Unconvincing Justification
When speaking to Adam Schein on SiriusXM Mad Dog Radio, Dallas Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones offered an unconvincing explanation for why they didn’t pursue Derrick Henry during his free agency. Jones expressed his admiration for the running back, saying.
Well, first of all, nothing but respect for Derrick Henry. I mean, he’s one of the topbacks in this league. He’s had one of the great careers in this league. I wish him nothing but the best with the Ravens.
Despite recognizing Henry’s immense talent, Jones pointed to salary cap constraints as the main reason the Our situation is just, you know, and no one ever wants to say it, but it’s the salary cap, and we just didn’t have the money to allocate to that position in terms of where we were from a cap standpoint, knowing what we’re looking at with Dak [Prescott] and certainly Micah [Parsons] and CeeDee Lamb.
Tennessee Titans Derrick Henry reportedly a target of Jerry Jones and the Dallas Cowboys nearing the trade deadline. pic.twitter.com/FRsLAl46P4
— NFL Rumors (@nflrums) October 27, 2023
A Perennial Problem for the Dallas Cowboys
Stephen Jones’ explanation leaves many fans baffled. The Dallas Cowboys could have maneuvered their salary cap by deferring payments on contract extensions for quarterback Dak Prescott, wide receiver CeeDee Lamb, or linebacker Micah Parsons. Instead, their decision not to pursue Derrick Henry reeks of organizational incompetence.
We hated to lose Tony Pollard. We had to lose Zeke the year before from a cap standpoint. And, you know, we just didn’t have the dollars to allocate to the running back position. But how does bringing back Elliott, a player the Cowboys had already discarded, solve the problem?
What the Missed Opportunity Means for the Dallas Cowboys’ Future?
Failing to secure Derrick Henry not only cost Dallas a potential superstar but also undermined their chances of fielding a serious Super Bowl contender. By joining the Ravens, Henry is now part of an AFC team poised to challenge the Kansas City Chiefs, leaving Dallas with an offense that lacks firepower.
Their failure to plan financially will likely have consequences that extend beyond missing out on Henry. Prolonging the Dak Prescott contract saga could result in losing their franchise quarterback, while uncertainty looms over future deals for Lamb and Parsons. If the Cowboys fall short of a Super Bowl appearance this season, head coach Mike McCarthy may find himself out of a job, pushing the Cowboys into a rapid rebuild phase.
As Derrick Henry dominates the AFC playoffs in January, the Cowboys might be left wondering what could have been if they had played their cards differently.
