As the NFL free agency is a few weeks in and the NFL draft a little over a month away, it is always fun to dive into what this football team is still lacking before April 24th rolls round.
As you should all know by now, the Cowboys looked like they found something in Rico Dowdle last season after he took over the full-time role at running back, and now he has taken his talents to Carolina.
He signed a one-year deal worth up to $6.25M with the Panthers, leaving the Dallas Cowboys in a very similar situation as the start of 2024.
Breaking down some of the #DallasCowboys free agent moves.
The guys discuss the running back room.
Is the running back room better or worse? pic.twitter.com/UwUjvwI0QR
— DLLS Cowboys (@DLLS_Cowboys) March 17, 2025
Looks Like 2024
After Rico was given the keys full-time and took over as the lead back, he looked great. He did not score many touchdowns, but finished with 235 carries for 1,079 yards and 4.6 yards per carry.
With him now gone, to me, it seems like the idea is for this team to once again just go with a running back by committee. Does it not seem that way to you?
Outside of Duece Vaughn, who will probably be cut after camp, they Miles Sanders and Javonte Williams leading the backfield.
The Cowboys signed them both to one-year deals, at similar numbers, around 3 million bucks.
Sanders rushed for just 637 yards and three touchdowns in two seasons with Carolina after they signed him away from the Eagles for four years and just over $25 million in 2023.
In 11 games with the Panthers last season, Sanders tallied 353 total yards and three touchdowns on 79 touches.
Sanders is just two seasons removed from his Pro Bowl campaign with the Eagles in which he rushed for 1,269 yards and 11 touchdowns in 2022.
Cowboys adding more depth at the running back position. Still think their 2025 leading rusher will come from the draft https://t.co/UIoMWGQYww
— Jon Machota (@jonmachota) March 14, 2025
Dallas had the sixth-worst rushing attack in 2024, averaging just 95.7 yards per game.
Williams on the other hand, a second-round pick in 2021 out of UNC, has spent the last four seasons with the Broncos. In 2024, he carried the ball 139 for 513 yards and four touchdowns, averaging 3.7 yards per carry.
Williams has averaged under 4.0 yards per carry over the last two seasons.
This has running back by committee and ride the hot hand all over it. Sure, Sanders had a very solid year in 2022, but can he get back to that type of production? He had the best offensive line in football when he was with Philly, he won’t have that in Dallas.
Please Draft Someone
We wanted this team to draft a running back last year, and they did not, but this draft is deep and has some really solid running backs that I would love the Cowboys to draft.
Ashton Jeanty is the name everyone wants, but I don’t think he makes it all the way down to the 12th pick. If he does, you take him. If not, look to take a guy in the 2nd, 3rd or 4th round.
Omarion Hampton from North Carolina is the other back folks are saying Dallas could take in the first round, but to me that is a reach. I would take an offensive line or defensive lineman before him.
Dallas Cowboys’ biggest needs:
— Cornerback
— Running back
— Linebacker
— Wide receiver
— Defensive end— Jon Machota (@jonmachota) March 11, 2025
I would not mind if Dallas took TreVeyon Henderson from Ohio State, Dylan Sampson from Tennessee, or RJ Harvey from UCF. The guy I want though, in the later rounds is Ollie Gordon from Oklahoma State.
Look, who knows what this front office is going to do in the draft, but if they don’t take a running back and roll with Williams and Sanders, I just can’t take them serious.
These two backs will be good for a change of pace and to keep a vet with fresh legs out there when needed, but you can’t expect to get high level production from both of these guys.
I think the leading back for 2025 comes from the NFL draft.