Dallas Cowboys fans couldn’t help but think about what might have been with Derrick Henry as they watched their team fall to the Baltimore Ravens in a 28-25 defeat on Sunday. Henry, the Ravens’ star running back, delivered a standout performance, rushing for 151 yards and two touchdowns on 25 carries at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
With the Cowboys struggling to regain momentum after losing Tony Pollard in the offseason, many were left wondering why Dallas hadn’t made a stronger effort to sign Henry, a player who could have filled the void in their backfield.
In the aftermath of the loss, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones addressed the elephant in the room, shedding light on why the team didn’t pursue the Pro Bowl running back during free agency. His comments likely did little to ease the frustrations of the fanbase.
“Hats off to him. He had a great day today. Have all the respect in the world for him,” Jones said, speaking to reporters after the game, via ESPN’s Todd Archer. “And so that’s what happens when you don’t sign good ones: They can come back and have a great game against you. But bottom line is we couldn’t afford Derrick Henry.”
Jones went on to offer an analogy to explain the situation further. “Why can’t you buy a mansion when you live in a different kind of house? We couldn’t afford him. We can’t make that all fit. That’s as simple as that.”
While Jones’ explanation emphasized financial constraints, the Cowboys’ decision not to pursue Henry raised eyebrows, especially considering Henry’s contract with the Ravens was far from exorbitant. Baltimore signed the star running back to a two-year, $16 million deal with a $5.1 million salary cap hit for the 2024 season—a figure that many believe Dallas could have found a way to accommodate.
Jones pointed to the significant financial commitments the Cowboys already made to key players like quarterback Dak Prescott and wide receiver CeeDee Lamb, suggesting there was no room left to sign Henry. However, many fans and analysts questioned whether the Cowboys had truly exhausted all options to make the deal work, especially given the potential impact Henry could have had on the team’s offense.
There is even reason to believe that the Cowboys may not have seriously engaged with Henry or his representatives during the offseason. While there was speculation that Dallas could be a landing spot for the running back following Pollard’s departure, there were no substantial reports of negotiations between the two sides.
Sunday’s loss marked the Cowboys’ second consecutive defeat, dropping them to 1-2 on the season. The loss came on the heels of a humiliating 44-19 blowout at the hands of the New Orleans Saints in Week 2, further deepening concerns about the direction of the team. While Prescott put up a solid performance against Baltimore, the team’s inability to close out games is becoming a growing concern.
After the game, Prescott delivered a pointed message to his critics, signaling his determination to silence the doubters as the season progresses.
For Cowboys fans, however, the question remains: Could Derrick Henry have been the difference-maker the team desperately needed?
While we’ll never know for sure, watching Henry dominate in a Ravens uniform while Dallas struggled to find consistency on the ground will undoubtedly fuel ongoing debate.
