Ranking the best remaining RBs for Cowboys as Derrick Henry dream crashes and burns

The Dallas Cowboys have done nothing but swing and miss thus far in free agency. Well, not completely. They re-signed long-snapper Trent Sieg on Tuesday. As of this writing, that is the Cowboys' lone move of the legal tampering period.

It's unclear how active the Cowboys have been in the running back market, but they allowed Tony Pollard to ink a three-year, $24 million deal with the Titans. In light of that news, droves of Dallas diehards campaigned for the team to sign Derrick Henry, whom Pollard is replacing in Tennessee.

Somewhat predictably, that didn't happen as Henry signed with the Ravens. What makes it all the more frustrating is that Henry was highly affordable. Per reports, Henry inked a two-year, $16 million contract with Baltimore with a max value of $20 million.

The Cowboys could have made that work if they wanted to. Now, the running back pickings are slim entering day three of the FA frenzy. They need to get someone in the door before the market dries up completely. With that in mind, let's rank the best remaining free agents.

6. Clyde Edwards-Helaire

It says a lot about Edwards-Helaire's disappointing Chiefs tenure that he was surpassed on the depth chart by Isiah Pacheco and Jerick McKinnon. The former 2021 first-round pick has averaged a respectable 4.2 yards per carry in his career, but is fresh off logging a lowly 3.2 yards per tote this past season.

Edwards-Helaire would be a safe, albeit uninspiring signing by the Cowboys. What he lacks in vision and power between the tackles he makes up for in pass-protection and as a receiving threat out of the backfield. Most importantly, his $1.6 million projected market value aligns almost perfectly with Dallas' reported budget.

5. A.J. Dillon

If the Cowboys are solely searching for a mauler, look no further A.J. Dillon, who garnered the "Quadzilla" nickname after he rushed for 124 yards and two touchdowns against the Titans as a rookie in 2020. At 6-foot and 247 pounds, Dillon is seldom brought down by the first defender.

In the right offense, Dillon can flourish as a short-yardage specialist. He accumulated over 2,400 rushing yards and 16 touchdowns in four seasons with the Packers. The Cowboys foolishly bypassed signing Aaron Jones, who got released by Green Bay after the team signed Josh Jacobs, but they'd do well by signing Dillon, who's earned a PFF grade north of 75.0 in each of his first four seasons in the league.