Jerry Jones: Cowboys 'Couldn't Afford' Derrick Henry Contract in 2024 NFL Free Agency

One of the best running backs in the NFL was on the market in free agency this offseason, but the Dallas Cowboys couldn't land him.

Derrick Henry left the Tennessee Titans for the Baltimore Ravens, and he had his way with the Cowboys' defense on Sunday. After the loss, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones was asked why he didn't pursue Henry in free agency, and he kept his answer simple.

"We couldn't afford Derrick Henry," he said, per The Athletic's Jon Machota.

He didn't offer much of an explanation, saying it just wouldn't have worked.

"I don't know. Why can't you buy a mansion when you live in a different kind of house?" Jones said, per Pro Football Talk's Charean Williams. "We couldn't afford it. We can't make that all fit. That's as simple as that."

Henry was interested in the Cowboys in free agency, and Dallas needed a running back after Tony Pollard departed for the Titans, but Jones opted not to make an offer to the veteran.

Henry signed with the Ravens on a two-year, $16 million contract, while the Cowboys brought Ezekiel Elliot back to Dallas on a one-year, $3 million deal.

At the time, Dallas hadn't made any huge signings in free agency, but it later gave wide receiver CeeDee Lamb a four-year, $136 million extension before handing quarterback Dak Prescott a four-year, $240 million deal.

So far, those massive contracts have yielded just one win and two losses. And the weakest point of the Cowboys' offense has been their running game as they've mustered just 221 rushing yards through three games. Elliot is the team's leading rusher with 62 yards.

Meanwhile in Baltimore, Henry has 281 rushing yards and three touchdowns.

"I wouldn't direct the running game and lack thereof or where we've been over the last three games to any one running back at all, because it takes some offensive linemen to blow them out of there; it takes a passing game to keep them honest in the running game. It takes a lot of things to make that work," Jones said. "This wouldn't be solved with just jumping over there and getting [Hall of Famer] Jimmy Brown."

The Cowboys' issues could sort themselves out as the season continues, but at this point in the year it's hard to imagine Jones isn't regretting at least attempting to bring in Henry over the offseason.