The Dallas Cowboys have yet to address the running back position this offseason, but it appears they may have found their top target with former Texas Longhorn, Jonathon Brooks.
After a breakout 2022 season from Tony Pollard, the team passed the torch to him in 2023.
As we know now, Pollard was not able to repeat the same kind of success and the Cowboys offense suffered as a result.
Now, Dallas has moved on from Pollard and he headed to Tennessee on a 3-year, $24M deal, they have resigned backup Rico Dowdle, and the Cowboys are left without a true starting running back heading into 2024.
Considering the Cowboys' absence from free agency, all signs are pointing toward a rookie draft pick leading the room next season.
The question is who will that draftee be?
There seems to be some level of smoke coming out about Brooks that could give us the answer.
Dallas's Interest in Brooks
One way for fans to see the interest teams have in players behind the scenes in the lead-up to the draft is through formal visits.
Each team can pick 30 players to have fully formal, in-person visits within the leadup to the draft.
Considering the small number of visits, teams use these on the guys they are most interested in heading into April.
Especially with the Cowboys, they almost always target their 30-visit players in the draft.
It has come out in the last few days that Brooks is on that list for Dallas.
Texas RB Jonathon Brooks told me he has a 30-visit scheduled with the Dallas Cowboys.
He remains on track in his recovery and is expected to be cleared in time for training camp. pic.twitter.com/rs243031nF
— Nick Harris (@NickHarrisDC) March 20, 2024
In fact, he is the only running back on the list that we know of right now, and while that will likely change, it could be telling that Brooks is the first name in the group to get out to the local media.
The team has been showing interest in him dating back to the combine when they met with him in Indianapolis.
There is not a true first-round running back in this class, but Brooks is on the top of the list for many in terms of who is the best in the draft.
The fact that the team is showing such strong interest in him and not a later-round guy shows they might be aggressive in getting their guy.
Without a doubt, bringing Brooks in for a 30-visit is indicative of clear interest in him, but there is a second element to the visit.
Brooks' Medical Situation
Brooks' talent is unquestioned, it is his medicals that are the biggest question.
The former Longhorn tore his ACL in the middle of his breakout 2022 season in a November matchup with TCU.
Texas RB Jonathon Brooks was in the midst of a career year when he tore his ACL. I asked about the process of getting over that disappointment.
"If I just trust in Him, do my rehab, go through the whole process, I feel like it's gonna make me a bigger, stronger, more faithful… pic.twitter.com/UZ0Z1pUfKb
— Jeff Barker (@JeffBarker_) December 30, 2023
This shut down his season and will follow him until the very moment he steps on an NFL field for the first time; whenever that may be.
Teams are very cautious of prospects still recovering from major injuries, and a torn ACL is at the top of that list.
The draft stock of running backs, in general, is down, it certainly doesn't help Brooks that he has a major knee injury to boot.
Whether or not Dallas will pursue Brooks at all come draft day is fully reliant on a positive medical report from the Cowboys' doctors once they get him in the building on his visit.
The Cowboys have shown that they will draft an “injury-risk” player early.
Both Leighton Vander Esch and Jaylon Smith had major issues coming out, and because the Cowboys' doctors gave the team good reports, they drafted them anyway.
This could absolutely happen again with Brooks, and it already seems like that might be the case.
It has been reported that Dallas has “intel” on Brooks' health and is progressing forward in their evaluation, meaning they don't have major fears.
If it is true that the Cowboys have no real issues with the medical side, they will likely use the visit to confirm that part and then get to know the player and the person as he meets with coaches and the front office.
All signs to this point hint toward a strong interest in making Brooks a Cowboy, but they have to be confident in his knee and that he will reach their second-round pick first.
There is a very real chance this Texas native is the next RB1 in Dallas.
