Derrick Henry looks on while sitting on the bench.Derrick Henry (Photo by Nick Cammett/Getty Images)

Baltimore Ravens running back Derrick Henry recently admitted that going to an NFC team would have been the “perfect situation” for him.

Derrick Henry signed a two-year deal with the Ravens worth $16 million in free agency, joining forces with two-time league MVP and star quarterback Lamar Jackson. Henry will slot in as the Ravens’ new RB1 after losing both Gus Edwards and J.K. Dobbins in free agency.

During his appearance on “The Pivot Podcast“, Henry was asked about the Dallas Cowboys as a potential suitor for him. Like Baltimore, Dallas needed a new RB1 after losing Tony Pollard to the Tennessee Titans in free agency.

Henry revealed that the Cowboys never actually offered him a contract. He even admitted that Dallas would have been a “perfect situation”, since he lives there. But Baltimore was atop Henry’s wish list all along, and a conversation with franchise icon and Hall of Famer Ray Lewis only fueled Henry’s desire to join the Ravens:
“Even though I’m living in Dallas, and Dallas being a perfect situation as well because we lived there and wouldn’t have to move…They never reached out. I don’t really know too much about their organization, all I know is what I hear…they weren’t really interested. It is what it is.”

The Cowboys have remained surprisingly quiet in free agency, with the unproven tandem of Rico Dowdle and Deuce Vaughn sitting atop the RB depth chart. Derrick Henry would have unquestionably been a nice addition for Dallas, but only Jerry Jones and his inner circle truly know why he didn’t bother pursuing the 2020 Offensive Player of the Year.

Derrick Henry Will Fit Nicely In Baltimore

The Ravens were widely regarded as the best landing spot for Derrick Henry all along, and it wasn’t the least bit surprising when news emerged that they had won the sweepstakes.

Baltimore has enjoyed tremendous regular season success under Lamar Jackson, but they’ve only gone to the AFC Championship once (2023) and have yet to make it to a Super Bowl. With a big-time playoff performer and bulldozer runner like Henry leading the backfield, the Ravens are well-positioned to get over the Super Bowl hump once and for all next season.