Cowboys legend says under-appreciated NFL star can get the ‘love’ he deserves if he signs with Dallas

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One of the Dallas Cowboys’ greatest all-time receivers is doing his part to entice Derrick Henry to come to Big D.

Michael Irvin is on board with owner Jerry Jones’ declaration earlier this year that 2024 is about going all-in.

For Irvin, bringing the Tennessee Titans running back into the fold should be a priority.

Irvin’s sales pitch to Henry

On a recent FS1 episode of “Undisputed”, Irvin talked directly to Henry with his best sales pitch for why Dallas is the ideal landing spot for the 30-year-old.

“Come on over. Put that star on your helmet, buddy, and let us show you that kind of love!”

Irvin adds, “Derrick Henry can get them (the Dallas Cowboys) back! Derrick Henry hasn’t gotten the love that he deserves.”

Are the Cowboys buying what Irvin is selling?

Michael Irvin makes an appealing sales pitch that will entice Cowboys Nation but is that enough for Jerry Jones to dig deep into his pockets to add Henry?

There’s a big difference between hearing someone and actually listening.

While everyone hears what Irvin’s saying, will the Cowboys’ front office listen?

According to CowboysSI.com, that answer is no.

They say the team would prefer using a draft pick on a running back.

If that were true, it’d be a clear case of cutting costs and hoping that’s enough.

One way the Cowboys could afford Henry

There might be a way for the Cowboys to sign Henry without breaking the bank or selling some valuable assets.

It would require some wiggle room from Henry to take less money.

Henry’s four-year, $50 million contract with the Titans officially ends on March 13.

However, one projection suggests that a one-year deal for Henry could be worth approximately $4.6 million, according to SI.com.

That would be a reasonable deal that Jones would have difficulty passing up.

The likelihood of Henry taking a pay cut, though, is another story.

What Henry would bring to the table

Henry continued to pile up the yardage on the ground while the Titans were a dismal 6-11 in 2023, dead-last in the AFC South.

He hit the 1,000-yard rushing mark for the fifth time in the last six seasons while leading the league in carries (280) for the third time over the past four campaigns.

It doesn’t seem like he’s showing any signs of slowing down, and his strength and durability would be a big plus for Mike McCarthy’s offense.

Is Henry the best-suited back for the Cowboys’ Offense

No one would argue Henry’s an upgrade from Tony Pollard.

That still doesn’t mean they won’t bring Pollard back for 2024, especially if they can pay him less.

In 2023, Henry didn’t get the ball thrown his way quite as often as he did in 2022.

He had just 28 receptions for 214 yards this past season after a career-high 33 grabs for 398 yards over the previous campaign.

Those are minor hiccups at the end of the day, but the Cowboys need to ask themselves if they believe Henry can put them over the top?

If the answer is yes, the next question is whether or not someone else could also get them to a Super Bowl without costing them an arm and a leg.

There are plenty of questions, but the answers remain to be seen.