The Cowboys draft class won’t be set for another two months, but that hasn’t stopped the fans and media from projecting Ashton Jeanty to Dallas. The superstar running back from Boise State is a great option, but what about the sleepers?
We’ve seen how good middle-to-late-round running backs have become for teams in recent years.
David Montgomery, Breece Hall, and Derrick Henry were all drafted after the first round, and there are plenty more examples of guys picked even later.
https://twitter.com/benbbaldwin/status/1646969911791570949The point is that the Cowboys have regretted first-round running back picks before and could prioritize other positions early because of that. After all, this year’s class at that position is stacked, and there are many great options in the middle rounds.
With that in mind, let’s look at three sleeper options at running back that Dallas may draft this April.
2nd Round: TreVeyon Henderson, Ohio State
If you watched the College Football Playoff, you were wowed by Buckeye’s star TreVeyon Henderson at some point.
Heading up a backfield with fellow prospect Quinshon Judkins, this kid had 7.1 yards per carry this season. That is more than Jeanty, North Carolina’s Omarion Hampton, and Notre Dame’s Jeremiyah Love.
Henderson has championship pedigree, dual-threat ability as a rusher and pass catcher, and finished his collegiate career with 667 touches and zero fumbles.
https://twitter.com/FFSnoog/status/1877907384707780938He’s sometimes overshadowed by his teammate Judkins, and could even be drafted later than him, but Henderson has that x-factor that you just cannot teach.
His stock projects as a second-rounder right now, which could fit with Dallas at 44th overall.
The Cowboys’ last great running back was a Buckeye, and if they go back to the Ohio State well in this draft, they may just walk away with their next bell cow.
3rd Round: Cam Skattebo, Arizona State
Speaking of guys you heard about if you watched the playoffs, Arizona State’s Cam Skattebo became one of the most talked about football players in the country during the Sun Devils surprise run.
Listed at a stocky 5’11” and 215 pounds, Skattebo blew people away with his tough running, versatility, energy, and workload.
I mean this guy quite literally did it all for ASU.
By the end of the season, he had rushed 293 times for 1,711 yards and 21 touchdowns, caught 45 passes for 605 yards, and even threw a 42-yard passing touchdown against Texas.
https://twitter.com/espn/status/1874564578073358458Skattebo’s persona and reputation are larger than he is at this point, and for good reason. He became a true college football star this season.
Ultimately, that legacy will get him into the NFL, though it may be later than some expect. I could see a Cowboys draft class with Skattebo as the third-round selection.
4th Round: DJ Giddens, Kansas State
Yesterday, it was announced that the Cowboys are hiring Kansas State Offensive Coordinator Conor Riley as their offensive line coach. Riley has been a long-time o-line coach, is reuniting with Cooper Beebe, and may get to coach his running back again.
DJ Giddens, the Wildcats star, ran Riley’s offense in 2024, and he dominated.
Rushing for 1,343 yards, Giddens cemented himself as an NFL prospect and a top option for the Cowboys draft if they wait for a running back.
https://twitter.com/TylerDBrooke/status/1886987881182294453He will fall in the draft some due to long-speed concerns, but he more than makes up for it with elite elusiveness; this guy can break the ankles of any linebacker in front of him.
With the Riley connection in place, there will be at least one guy in the draft room pounding the table for Giddens.
He is the exact kind of running back that isn’t drafted high, but shocks the league with a huge rookie season. Giddens is a great sleeper option for a Cowboys draft class that will need success in the later rounds.