If you thought the running back discourse was exhausting last offseason, it's going to take on a similar life of its own this spring. The Dallas Cowboys' need for a running back could not be more obvious.
As of this writing, Deuce Vaughn is the only RB under contract for next season. The team signed Malik Davis to a reserve/futures deal but the former undrafted free agent hasn't logged a single carry over the last two seasons.
It's possible that Dallas wants to re-sign Rico Dowdle, who is among the top free agents at the position. Pairing Dowdle with an impact rookie is a potential solution, but it would be perfectly fine if the Cowboys drafted a rookie to be their workhorse.
What is painfully obvious, though, is that this front office isn't splurging on a running back in free agency. Cowboys fans learned that the hard way last March when the team maddeningly glossed over Derrick Henry, who stated publicly that he would love to play for Dallas.
Henry went on to have a historic season with the Ravens. There's little doubt he would've had a transformative impact on the Cowboys. Shockingly, Micah Parsons doesn't think that's the case.
Micah Parsons gets brutally honest about Derrick Henry if he signed with the Cowboys
"I'm afraid Derrick Henry wouldn't even have helped us," Parsons told Mad Dog Sports Radio. "We were that -- Derrick Henry should be blessed because he played with Lamar and he almost run for 2,000 yards. The hypotheticals sometimes can sound pretty good, but man, we struggled so much that I don't even know if Derrick could've helped us. It would've been another Tennessee Titan year for him."
Before Cowboys fans jump Parsons, this falls directly on Jerry Jones.
For starters, Parsons probably isn't going to throw Jones under the bus with contract negotiations right around the corner. Parsons has been outspoken about wanting to sign his extension before free agency to give Dallas maximum flexibility this offseason. He likely doesn't want to ruffle any feathers before he and the Joneses get down to brass tacks.
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Furthermore, it is an indictment on the 2024 offseason as a whole that Parsons believes Henry wouldn't have helped the Cowboys. While injuries derailed Dallas' season, the team's deficiencies were apparent early on in blowout losses to the Saints, Lions and 49ers.
The Cowboys spent the least money in free agency of any team last offseason. The roster was extremely top-heavy and the Joneses did nothing to improve the depth. Dallas got bullied in the trenches against physical teams and yet the Joneses waited until after training camp to bring in two defensive tackles whose combined age is 68 years old.
Henry rushed for nearly 2,000 yards, led the NFL with 16 rushing touchdowns and posted a career-high 5.9 yards per carry this season. He was a top-five offensive player in the league. If not for Saquon Barkley's historic year with the Eagles, we'd be talking about Henry's season as one of the best ever for a running back.
The Cowboys, meanwhile, ranked 26th with 100.3 rushing yards per game. Dowdle announced himself as a starting-caliber RB, but Henry is a future Hall of Famer. He would've made a difference.
While "The King" ultimately might not have helped Dallas make the playoffs because of Dak Prescott's injury, Parsons is foolish to think Henry wouldn't have helped at all. Again, though, that is directly the fault of Jerry Jones.