Derrick Henry ‘Just Bought a House in Dallas’? Cowboys Truth Behind Rumor in Free Agency
FRISCO - Derrick Henry has been working out in Dallas. And now there is gossip that he “just bought a house in Dallas!”
What’s the truth behind the rumors?
First, make no mistake: About the DFW workout? He habitually does this in his NFL offseason, which in no way connects the two-time NFL rushing champ to the Dallas Cowboys.
Second: He may have just conducted another transaction in DFW. But he also owns a home here, a $1.6 million, 4,000-square-foot mansion near downtown, in the Bluffview area.
So he didn’t “just move here.” In addition to his home in Nashville, he’s also been “here” since the 2022 purchase of his Bluffview pad.
Now, should it all add up to something more?
Make no mistake once again: For the last couple of years, folks outside The Star have stirred up rumors about the Cowboys wanting to trade for, sign, pursue, whatever ... King Henry.And it's never been true. And now we have a team source suggesting to us that the Cowboys' view there has not changed. Four bullet points ...
1- Respect for Henry? Absolutely.
2- Effective even at age 30? He was indeed, as he just ran for 1,167 yards behind a poor offensive line in Tennessee while having played in every game, leading the league in carries. And he closed strong, as his best performance came in the final Titans game, as he rushed for 153 yards and one touchdown on 19 carries - a 8.1-yard rushing average that won him that week's NFL "ground game'' award.
3- Need-filling? Yes. Tony Pollard and his $10 million one-year salary are about to go free. Rico Dowdle is a restricted free agent but could return if the Cowboys see value, and Malik Davis, Snoop Conner, Deuce Vaughn and Hunter Luepke are on the roster. But a true quality back - and a true power back? Needs indeed. … though a team source tells us that bringing back Pollard at the right price is “an attractive idea” inside The Star.
4- Affordable? Spotrac projects his 2024 salary at $4.3 million, so we might find a a one-year, last-gasp try enticing. But ...Dallas, according to a source speaking to CowboysSI.com, does not presently see it that way.
In a clogged free agent running back market, that can change. But …
Ezekiel Elliott was expensive. Tony Pollard was expensive. The Cowboys spent at the position, trying to buck an NFL trend, and in the end - the end being 2023 - the Cowboys lost.
Dallas finished 15th in rushing yards per game (113.5), which was a worse return than 2022 (131.7). The Cowboys lost on average, just over 20 yards per game with Pollard as the lead back compared to last season.
Pollard, in his first season as the lead back, had a "relatively'' down year. He finished the season with 1,005 rushing yards and six touchdowns while averaging 59.1 yards per game on 252 carries. Last season, Pollard had more yards (1,007), rushing touchdowns (nine), yards per game (62.9) and yards per carry (5.2) than he did this season.
Now for the real eyebrow raiser - Pollard had 59 more carries than he did in 2022.He also only had one 100-yard rushing game all season (Week 3 vs. the Cardinals) and never had more than 79 yards in a game outside of that. Pollard also only had two rushing touchdowns in the first nine games.
So, he had less production with more involvement. Dallas isn't going to pay $10 million for that again.
All signs point to the Cowboys planning to draft a potential starter at the position, with a smart selection the best way to "beat the cap.'' Will that player be superior to Pollard, once a fourth-round pick? Will he team with Pollard? Maybe.
Will that player perform at a level that makes the Cowboys right in passing on paying Derrick Henry or Saquon Barkley or any other "name'' running back?
Even as Henry works out in Dallas and lives in Dallas part-time, and even as Barkley says nice things about the "bright lights'' of "America's Team'' ... the Cowboys are likely to be betting on Pollard and the NFL Draft here.
