(Editor's Note: With the Dallas Cowboys heading into the April 25-26 NFL Draft with 11 picks, DallasCowboys.com's 12-part Draft Series will break down the Cowboys position by position, analyzing what they have at the particular position, what their needs are and just who might be available, along with including some interesting draft nuggets. Part 11 will feature running backs.)

IRVING, Texas - A year ago, the Cowboys had nothing but uncertainty at running back. Now, it's arguably the one position that doesn't need to be addressed in the draft.

That's not to say the Cowboys will completely overlook the position in next weekend's draft, where the club currently has 11 overall draft picks. If they truly stick with the "take-the-best-player-available" theory, then a running back is bound to be there for one of their selections.

However, the Cowboys won't be hurting if they go through this year's draft without taking a running back. The team took two last year, including Felix Jones in the first-round. They came back in the fourth to take Tashard Choice. And those picks were less than a month before the Cowboys locked up Marion Barber to a seven-year deal worth $45 million.

The Cowboys addressed their running back needs in 2008. It's safe to assume the team will barely touch the position in 2009.

What They Have: The Cowboys have a little bit of everything at the running back position: youth, experience, power, speed, power and speed, toughness, big-play potential and short-yardage specialists. With just three players, the Cowboys possess all of those traits at running back.

With the combinations of Barber, Jones and Choice, the Cowboys are basically stocked at running back. Because of the injuries to Barber and Jones late in the season, the Cowboys were forced to see what Choice could do and they had to be pleased with the results. Facing four of the top five overall defenses in the NFL, Choice was more than solid, both as a runner and pass-catcher.

Barber has been the Cowboys' workhorse the past three seasons, where he has 31 touchdowns. Jones is considered the team's home-run hitter, with the ability to score from any spot on the field. Now, how he recovers from toe surgery that ended his rookie season is somewhat of a concern, but all signs indicate that Jones will be completely healed and ready to go for the Cowboys here in the summer OTA practices and mini-camps.

As for Choice, he just might be the most complete running back of the trio. He's strong and powerful inside, but has the speed to rip off some long runs. Just how many carries he gets this season will be an interesting situation for the coaching staff.

The Cowboys also have Alonzo Coleman on the roster. He spent most of the year on the practice squad before being called up later in the season. Without an injury, it will be tough for him to land a spot on the 53-man roster.

As for the fullbacks, the Cowboys have Deon Anderson, who played most of last season after missing nearly all of his rookie season in 2007. Anderson hasn't been a huge factor in the offense, but that has more to do with the scheme than his performance. Behind Anderson, the Cowboys were encouraged by the play of Julius Crosslin, who spent his entire rookie year on the practice squad.

What They Need: If the Cowboys draft any kind of running back, it would probably be a fullback to provide some depth or possibly competition for Anderson. But don't rule out a tailback, probably in the later rounds. At that point, you have to stick to your draft board and if it calls for a running back, the Cowboys wouldn't be afraid to do that.

With the injuries to Barber and Jones last year, the Cowboys might consider adding some depth to the backfield, with the fear they might have too many backs in the stable at the end of camp.

Who's Out There: This doesn't appear to be the stellar draft class at running back that we saw in 2008. Ohio State's Chris "Beanie" Wells has seen his stock rise rapidly here before the draft. It appears he will be a mid-round pick in the first round, if not higher. Wells didn't have the best season in 2008 because of injuries, but his size and quickness give him a 1-2 punch that elevates him to the top of the class. You don't see many backs at 6-1, 235 running in the 4.4 range.

Georgia's Knowshon Moreno is an athletic back that can run by defenders, run through them or even jump over them. Moreno looks to be an every-down back, but should immediately contribute as a third-down back because of his pass-catching skills.

UConn's Donald Brown has a chance to be a first-round pick and watch out for Pittsburgh's LeSean McCoy and Shon Greene of Iowa.

In the later rounds, the Cowboys might be looking at some sleeper picks, such as Alabama's Glenn Coffee, Mike Goodson of Texas A&M, UCLA's Kahil Bell or Gartrell Johnson from Colorado State.

At the fullback position, the best of the bunch include LSU's Quinn Johnson, Tony Fiammetta of Syracuse and Georgia's Brannan Sutherland.

Draft Nuggets: One of the most popular running backs in the class is Boise State's Ian Johnson, who made an impromptu marriage proposal to his girlfriend following his winning touchdown over Oklahoma in the 2007 Fiesta Bowl . . . TCU's Aaron Brown attended the Cowboys' Dallas Day workout at Valley Ranch . . . Northwestern running back Tyrell Sutton had a productive career, but his numbers never were as high as his first season, when he was a Freshman All-America with 1,476 rushing yards . . . Bernard Scott of Abilene Christian has had a troubled past, with five reported arrests during his collegiate career that included four stops before he came to ACU. Scott won the Harlon Hill Award for the top player in Division II in 2008. He rushed for 2,156 yards and had 826 yards receiving, along with 34 total touchdowns - all during his senior season.

Look Back: The Cowboys were coming off an impressive 11-3 season in 1976 and appeared to have most of the pieces in place for another championship run. But after three straight years of failing to get a 1,000-yard rusher, the Cowboys addressed their running back needs in a huge way, trading up in the 1977 draft to obtain the No. 2 overall pick from the Seahawks.

The Cowboys relinquished their late pick in the first round and three more second-round picks to maneuver their way up to draft Tony Dorsett, who had just led the University of Pittsburgh to the NCAA national title.

And Dorsett quickly proved he was worth the gamble, becoming the 1977 NFL Rookie of the Year and helping the Cowboys win Super Bowl XII as a rookie. Dorsett, a Pro Football Hall of Fame and Ring of Honor inductee in 1994, went on to rush for 12,036 yards in his 11 seasons in Dallas. He will always hold or at least share the NFL record for the longest rush from scrimmage with a 99-yard touchdown run against Minnesota in 1982.

Up Next: Quarterback

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