Jerry Jones gets blunt on ditching Derrick Henry chase after Ravens RB manhandles Cowboys in Dallas
During the offseason, it was clear that Derrick Henry was looking to go to a team that could win the Super Bowl, and Jerry Jones was saying that his Cowboys were looking to win the championship this season. Based on that, one would have assumed that Dallas would prioritize adding the "king" of running backs to the team's backfield.
Ultimately, Henry went to the Baltimore Ravens. Instead of a Titans running back coming to Dallas, Cowboys rusher Tony Pollard went to Tennessee. Jones brought back Ezekiel Elliott instead.
After Henry rushed for 151 yards and scored two touchdowns in Week 3 of the 2024 NFL season as the Ravens beat the Cowboys 28-25 in front of Jones in Dallas, the Cowboys owner was asked if he had any regrets. He reiterated that he was happy with the personnel he has right now.
When specifically pressed on not getting Henry, Jones was clear about his reasons, saying:
“We couldn’t afford Derrick Henry.”
Jerry Jones tried to acquire Derrick Henry for Cowboys but Ravens were always favorites
As Sportskeeda's NFL insider, Tony Pauline, reported during the offseason, the Cowboys were the dark horses to sign Derrick Henry. However, the Ravens were always the favorites.
Firstly, Baltimore was always the former Titans star's favored destination. After joining the team, Sports Illustrated reported him saying:
“This is where I knew I wanted to be. I love the style, the physicality that they play with in all three phases. It’s my style of play as well. It was really a no-brainer, just trying to figure out the business side of things and glad we were able to get it figured out.”
Additionally, Jerry Jones also had to contend with three key players' contract extensions coming up, which were going to eat into the salary cap. He has already given contracts to CeeDee Lamb and Dak Prescott since then, with Micah Parsons' contract probably coming up next year.
Therefore, they ultimately never reached out to Henry, as confirmed by the running back himself to Adam Schein. Henry said:
"The Cowboys never called at all."
For any Cowboys fans, though, even if they understand the business side of this conversation, they must have been wishing that the running back was on their side. Not just because then he could not have ripped apart their defense, but he could have been a valuable asset in getting over their own Super Bowl drought.