Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

Insider suggests Cowboys could target top RBs in NFL free agency

By Michael Gallagher | Last updated 4/4/23

With Ezekiel Elliott no longer in the fold, the Dallas Cowboys will likely need an insurance plan at running back while Tony Pollard recovers from the broken fibula he suffered in the NFC divisional round against the San Francisco 49ers.

With Pollard’s status in question for Week 1 of the 2023 season, ESPN’s Bill Barnwell believes the Cowboys could swing big in their search for a starting-caliber RB with Pollard on the mend.

“The Cowboys could look toward a market that still includes Leonard Fournette, Latavius Murray and Kareem Hunt unsigned,” Barnwell said. “There's also a chance expensive veterans such as Derrick Henry and Dalvin Cook could be released after the draft. Dallas could add a rookie in April's draft, but Pollard's uncertain status for Week 1 leads me to believe the team would probably prefer to have a more experienced back on the roster.”

While there have been mixed reports on Henry’s availability, first-year Titans general manager Ran Carthon has indicated he’s not above moving on from any player on the team’s roster.

Tennessee has a little over $6 million in cap space right now and trading or cutting Henry post-June 1 would save the team $11 million. The 29-year-old tailback finished second in the league in rushing in 2022, just one season removed from suffering a broken foot.

Feel like we take Derrick Henry's greatness for granted...

In his last 4 seasons (55 Games) he has put up:

58 TDs (Most In NFL)
6,914 Total Yards (Most In NFL)
125.7 Total Yards Per Game
114 Broken Tackles

Only 1 King Henry. ⚔️@KingHenry_2 pic.twitter.com/NUNc7Z5YLZ
— Whistle Blitz (@WhistleBlitz) March 26, 2023

Henry is durable enough to begin the year as the starter until Pollard returns, at which point both RBs could benefit from a split in carries (Henry has led the NFL in carries three of the last four years.)

The Vikings have not been shy about Cook being on the trade block. Reports have indicated Minnesota would take a mid-round pick to get rid of the 27-year-old running back who carries a $14.1 million cap hit in 2023.

Cook has rushed for 1,100 or more yards and six or more touchdowns each of the last four years, and he could serve as a capable starter until Pollard is 100 percent healthy.