The Dallas Cowboys took some gambles with their roster last offseason. They rolled into the NFL draft with starting needs at left tackle, center, defensive tackle, and running back still unaddressed. They had major depth issues at defensive end, linebacker, cornerback and receiver that also demanded attention. All together they had far more needs than draft resources, indicating that when the music stopped playing, some positions would be left without a chair. One of those positions was running back.
The Cowboys roster was barren at the RB spot. After letting Tony Pollard leave in free agency, they had Rico Dowdle and Ezekeil Elliott sitting atop the depth chart. At that point it was obvious Elliott was a complementary piece, at best, and Dowdle had more significant injuries on his record than skins on the wall. It was clear Dallas needed to add a RB1 to the mix and the NFL draft was just the place to find one. Expect they didn’t.
No one ever knows how any draft is going to fall. It’s a living, breathing entity that adjusts to the whims of 32 teams. Sometimes things fall just right and other times things fall all wrong. It’s up to individual teams like the Cowboys to accept and adapt.
In 2024 they did both. Dallas accepted better players were on the board and adapted their strategy to play to the strengths of the situation. The strategy netted them a few highly regarded players, though it also left them with a major hole at the RB position.
As the situation played out in 2024, the Cowboys managed to survive their RB issue with a strong season from Dowdle. The South Carolina product led the team in rushing yards and most other categories. He was a fine player but not necessarily someone to build a running game around.
The 2025 offseason began with Dallas saying goodbye to Elliott and Dowdle and enacting a new plan to upgrade their RB room for the coming season. This time they’d appear to learn from some of their past mistakes and signed Javonte Williams and Miles Sanders in free agency, providing, at the very least, a safety net.
Williams, 24, brings second-round pedigree to the unit. An injury in 2022 derailed his career early but he’s now two years removed and brings almost elite third-down traits to the table, thriving as a pass catcher, pass protector and short-yardage runner.
Sanders, 27, is another former second-round pick acquired by the Cowboys in March. He brings real NFL production and a balanced skillset to the RB room, but like Williams, he has his own injury issues lurking in his past.
Neither addition is a sure thing, let alone an answer at RB1, but they both seem to provide more of a safety net than what Dowdle and Elliott offered at this time last year. The attention paid to the RB position in free agency could signal a change in how the Cowboys approach the 2025 NFL draft.
The Cowboys now find themselves in a similar situation to last year. They enter the draft with a deep desire to find a RB1. They also have a handful of other needs that may feel more pressing early on. If they take the draft as it comes like last year, they may find themselves halfway through day three and still looking for a RB. Given the depth of the RB position a case can be made that’s the smartest way to handle the position. Unfortunately, the consequences could also be ...
