Cowboys Among Favorites to Sign 12-TD Star Running Back.
The Dallas Cowboys could be a great fit for the best running back of this age.
Stake betting odds show the Cowboys have the second-best chance of signing Tennessee Titans running back Derrick Henry. Henry will be a free agency this summer after spending the whole eight years of his career with the Titans. With Tennessee embarking on a rebuild following the termination of head coach Mike Vrabel, Henry is likely to look for a new team this summer.
Why Derrick Henry Remains a Popular Name in Free Agency
Despite being 30 years old, Henry stays productive. Despite playing on a below-average offensive team (the Titans were 27th in scoring) headed by a rookie quarterback in Will Levis, Henry recorded 1,167 rushing yards with 12 touchdowns on 4.2 yards per run and appeared in all 17 games.
He was second in the league in rushing yards and fifth in total touches (308).
In fact, other from his 2021 season, when he lost half of it due to a Jones fracture, Henry has been one of the league’s most durable running backs, missing only two games in his career.
To top it all off, Henry is the most accomplished active running back in the NFL, having won Offensive Player of the Year, been selected to two All-Pro teams, appeared in four Pro Bowls, and led the league in rushing yards and touchdowns twice.
Why Cowboys Might Make Sense for Derrick Henry
While Henry’s production and durability are undeniable, are the Cowboys prepared to pay a premium to sign one of this generation’s best running backs?
According to Spotrac, Henry’s market worth is $10.3 million per season, ranking sixth among all running backs. It’s vital to understand that this is a one-year deal.
After signing Ezekiel Elliott to a six-year, $90 million contract in 2019, the Cowboys are unlikely to offer Henry or other running backs a contract longer than one or two years.
When you consider the bloated market for free agency running backs and the dwindling value of the position — Josh Jacobs, Saquon Barkley, and D’Andre Swift are just a few of the other big names available — you shouldn’t expect the Cowboys to overspend for a seasoned back.
Dallas’ current starting running back, Tony Pollard, is set to become a free agency. Pollard made his debut as a starting running back in 2023, and his performance was average. While he shown his ability to bear the demands of being a full-time back, he did it with decreasing efficiency.Pollard had a lower average of 4.0 yards per carry compared to 5.2 yards per run as Elliott’s backup in 2022.
It also doesn’t help that Pollard was unproductive in short-yardage and red zone situations, rushing for only six touchdowns compared to 12 overall in 2022.
Pollard’s potential is clearly limited. Dallas is likely to hunt for another veteran running back in free agency to fill the vacancy.
The question is: will they pursue Henry?
Henry likely checks all of the Cowboys’ criteria, including durability, production, and short-yardage productivity. It will most likely come down to Dallas’ willingness to pay a little more to sign a great running back.
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