The NFL offseason is full of surprises, and they aren’t always good ones. Cowboys fans have been hoping for Ashton Jeanty to be the team’s first-round pick for months, but it seems like that dream may be fading away.
On Friday, the Seahawks sent Geno Smith to the quarterback-needy Raiders. It was a surprising move, but Pete Carroll’s presence in Las Vegas softens the shock.
That trade has flipped what we knew about the quarterback frenzy of this offseason.
Seattle is now set to pursue Sam Darnold, the Vikings are looking at Aaron Rodgers and Daniel Jones, and the Raiders can shift their draft focus away from the Colorado Buffaloes star, Shedeur Sanders.
If you haven’t guessed already, that last part is where the mutual interest between the Cowboys and Jeanty hits a snag.
Let’s discuss exactly how and why the Raiders are set to rain on the Cowboys’ April parade.
Match Made In Vegas: Ashton Jeanty’s Fit
One look at the Raiders’ updated depth chart reveals a major problem for Dallas: a glaring hole at running back.
With Smith taking the reins at quarterback, Jakobi Meyers and Brock Bowers catching passes, and a young defense taking shape, running back is clearly their biggest weakness.
Zamir White is the current leader in the backfield, but the former Georgia Bulldog hasn’t panned out as Las Vegas would have hoped. He’s averaging 3.8 yards per carry and has just two career touchdowns with 186 rushes.
They have the sixth pick in the draft, and nobody in front of them is looking at running back; meanwhile, both the Raiders and Jeanty are already looking at each other.
Barring something unforeseen, he’ll be on the board when the Raiders get put on the clock, and the Heisman trophy runner-up could transform their new-look offense.
It’s still early in this process, but as it stands right now, it’s hard to see Las Vegas passing on Ashton Jeanty.
The Cowboys Audible: Where Will Dallas Turn?
When you take Jeanty out of the Cowboys’ draft picture, things get murky.
That doesn’t mean the backup options aren’t good; they just don’t stand alone like Jeanty does. Projecting Dallas’ pick may become impossible.
As many have speculated, North Carolina running back Omarion Hampton could become the team’s backup option. He’s as explosive as they come, and his draft stock has been shooting through the roof since the NFL Scouting Combine.
On the other hand, Dallas’ need at wide receiver could get filled with options like Luther Burden III or Tetairoa McMillan.
There is a less-flashy option, but one that has been a winning formula for other teams.
The Cowboys’ defensive line needs improvement, whether on the edge or the inside. Dallas could opt to beef up in the trenches with a defensive tackle like Walter Nolen or on the edge with Texas A&M’s Shermar Stewart.
The Bottom Line: Ashton Jeanty’s Rising Stock
No matter who you want Dallas to take at No. 12, one thing is clear: Ashton Jeanty’s chances of being available are shrinking fast.
With the Raiders at six and the Bears at ten, there are significant hurdles for the Cowboys to land this Boise State superstar. That could change depending on how free agency plays out, but that may be a stretch.
Chicago could pursue another option to pair with D’Andre Swift, considering the Raiders’ presence at six, but Vegas has little incentive to go elsewhere when Jeanty could fall right into their lap.
Dallas needs to start preparing for that scenario now. If they don’t, they could wind up empty-handed at running back for the second consecutive season.