NFL Rumors: Cowboys-Derrick Henry buzz (somehow) picks up more steam

The Dallas Cowboys have a need at running back after they released Ezekiel Elliott. While Tony Pollard is back on the franchise tag, he’s coming off a fractured fibula and surgery to repair a high-ankle sprain suffered in the playoff loss to the 49ers. 

While all signs point to Pollard making a full recovery, it’d be foolish of Dallas to come away from the NFL Draft without another back. 

The general consensus is the Cowboys will draft a running back. If they can’t get one of Bijan Robinson or Jahmyr Gibbs, there’s myriad other intriguing prospects who figure to be available in the second round and beyond, including Zach Charbonnet, Tyjae Spears, Zach Evans, and Roschon Johnson. 

Despite that, Dallas continues to be linked with one Derrick Henry. 

ESPN’s Bill Barnwell listed the Cowboys as a potential landing spot for Henry should he get released by the Titans. Now, Barnwell’s former colleague Trey Wingo, now of Pro Football Network, is stoking the Henry-to-Dallas flames. 

Could the Cowboys actually make a run at Derrick Henry? 

“The way Derrick plays and the size, it’s eventually going to catch up to him. If someone wants to take him on, I’ve heard the Cowboys [are] potentially interested, but it would have to be at their price, not Derrick Henry’s price,” Wingo said. 

Wingo isn’t an insider, but he’s covered the NFL for years and seemingly has some sources within the league. He was the first to break the Aaron Rodgers-Jets news. Though it took days after Wingo’s report for Rodgers to state he intends to play for New York, Wingo never wavered from his intel. 

Signing Henry in the wake of releasing Elliott fits the bill of a Jerry Jones move, as well. But even the headline-hunting owner recognizes the stupidity behind signing an aging back after releasing another, no? 

Henry turned 29 in January and has handled the greatest workload of any running back over the last several seasons. It’s not even close, actually. Since 2019, Henry has 174 more carries than the next RB, Dalvin Cook. That takes into account Henry missing nine games in 2021 with a broken foot. 

Henry can still do damage behind a formidable offensive line, but it’s worth pondering when the decline will start.

The two-time rushing champ has already defied the odds in terms of being durable and productive into his late-20s, but it’d be halfwitted for the Cowboys to bank on him remaining healthy for another season, even if it’s just a one-year deal at a palatable price. 

Maybe this is a classic case of Henry using Dallas as leverage to secure a bigger contract, but this is now the third time of late – USA Today being the other source – that the Cowboys have been linked to King Henry. 

Hopefully there’s no smoke near this supposed fire.