Dallas Cowboys fans were united in their thoughts about Derrick Henry during Sunday’s 28-25 loss to the Baltimore Ravens at AT&T Stadium.
As Henry powered through the Cowboys’ defense for 151 yards and two touchdowns on 25 carries, many couldn’t help but wonder how things might have been different if Henry had been wearing a star on his helmet instead of Ravens purple.
Unfortunately for Cowboys fans, some post-game comments from team owner Jerry Jones didn’t help soothe those thoughts.
During the offseason, with running back Tony Pollard departing, many saw Henry as an ideal fit for the Cowboys’ backfield. His bruising, downhill running style could have been the perfect complement to quarterback Dak Prescott and wide receiver CeeDee Lamb.
However, Jones made it clear after Sunday’s loss that signing Henry was never financially feasible for the Dallas Cowboys.
“Hats off to him. He had a great day today. Have all the respect in the world for him,” Jones said 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.”
Jones went on to explain that the Cowboys simply couldn’t afford the former Pro Bowl running back.
“Bottom line is we couldn’t afford Derrick Henry. 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.”
This explanation didn’t sit well with many Cowboys faithful. After all, Henry didn’t exactly sign a contract that broke the bank—he inked a two-year deal with the Ravens worth $16 million, with a cap hit of just $5.1 million for 2024.
While Jerry Jones pointed to the Cowboys’ commitments to big contracts for Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb, some fans argue that Dallas could have made room for Henry if they’d tried hard enough.
There is also speculation that Dallas didn’t even attempt to negotiate with Henry, a move that now seems questionable given their current 1-2 start to the season.
The Cowboys, fresh off an embarrassing 44-19 loss to the New Orleans Saints in Week 2, failed to bounce back against Baltimore. While Prescott played well and delivered a strong message to his doubters after the game, it’s clear that Dallas is missing a spark in their offense—perhaps one that Henry could have provided.
For now, Cowboys fans will have to wonder what could have been, while Derrick Henry continues to thrive with the Ravens.
As the Dallas Cowboys looks to salvage their season, the shadow of their missed opportunity looms large.
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