FRISCO, Texas – In the 65-season history of the Dallas Cowboys, rarely have they been running on empty at the running back position.
Why, this franchise has sported what we'd call a franchise running back for nearly 48 and a half of those years. You know, a guy they could sink their teeth into for more than one or two seasons. Someone to carry the load. In other words, a feature back.
Let's count.
From the beginning, Don Perkins' eight full seasons (1961-68) landed him in the Ring of Honor, having missed his first year in 1960 with a foot injury.
Next, Calvin Hill, six seasons (1969-74), and would have been extended if not for the lure of the short-lived WFL money.
Then Tony Dorsett, constructing a Ring of Honor and Hall of Fame career over 11 years (1977-87), and might have milked another year or two if not for the arrival of …
Herschel Walker, 3 and a half seasons (1986-89), his ultimate value produced via the great trade robbery of the Minnesota Vikings halfway through that 1989 season, resulting in a beaucoup of draft choices, maybe his greatest contribution.
For sure, Emmitt Smith, 13 Ring of Honor and Hall of Fame-worthy seasons (1990-2002) to become the NFL's all-time leading rusher.
And finally, Ezekiel Elliott, seven seasons during his first tour of duty (2016-22) that included three NFL rushing titles. And he did return for a cup of coffee in 2024.
In other words, six running backs, four of those first-round draft choices. Perkins arrived on a personal services contract that turned into the Cowboys forfeiting a ninth rounder three years later, while Walker was a prospecting fifth round 1985 investment when the team anticipated the USFL's eventual demise in 1986.
Oh, there have been other lead backs at times. Like two team-leading rushing seasons out of Duane Thomas (1970-71), a first-round pick. He might have been with the Cowboys longer if not for his incalcitrant ways. There were six seasons out of the late Marion Barber, three of those as the team's leading rusher.
There were four seasons of DeMarco Murray, a 2011 fourth-round pick who finished with two 1,000-yard seasons. The second of those saw him set the franchise single-season rushing record in 2014 with 1,845 yards, which then priced him out of the Cowboys' free-agent salary budget.
And who knows how long Rico Dowdell might have still been here had the Cowboys initial evaluation of the injury-riddled rookie free agent in 2020 been more accurate at the beginning of the 2024 season, one that he had him leading the team in rushing with a career high 1,079 yards while playing in 15 games. Why, Dowdle gained 677 of those yards (63 percent) in the final seven games of the season. In other words, on pace for a 1,644-yard season over 17 games to also price himself out of the cap budget in free agency.
As you can see, maybe not Running Back U, but a deep, rich running back tradition with two of those guys in the Hall of Fame (Dorsett and Emmitt), three of them in the Ring of Honor (Perkins joins those two) and those three and the rest producing 27 Pro Bowl selections.
But heading into the 2025 NFL Draft come Thursday, April 24, now what?
Rico is in Carolina. Zeke is an unrestricted free agent nearing retirement. The Cowboys signed two veteran stop-gap backs, Javonte Williams and Miles Sanders, but to minimum type one-year deals. Still around are the unknown commodities of Deuce Vaughn entering his third season, third-year fullback Hunter Luepke and last season's inexperienced practice-squad back, Malik Davis.
That's it.
Time to replenish the running back position. And no better and inexpensive way than to draft one next week. And I mean use one of their first three draft choices over Thursday and Friday on a running back, either with the 12th pick in the first round, the overall 44th pick in the second round or the 76th pick in the third round.
They should follow their history and not leave this position to chance. And for goodness sakes, let's not hear any of this socialized running back by committee business. This needs to be a dictatorship. Meaning dictating a physical offense, one new head coach Brian Schottenheimer seems to be piecing together with an offensive line-centric coaching staff and style he's quite familiar with, knowing all about his daddy's "Marty Ball" winning formula. Don't need any lip service on this priority.
And this does not mean becoming a run-oriented offense, but rather a run-effective gang. This past season was a prime example of what that can produce with how Saquon Barkley turned the Eagles into Super Bowl champs and how Derrick Henry bruised up the AFC.
Hey, seven of the top 10 running backs this past season, all with at least 1,122 yards rushing, were members of playoff teams. Coincidence? Hey, I'm a big proponent of throwing the football, especial with a healthy Dak Prescott at the helm, but a semblance of balance is necessary.
And this sure seems to be the draft to address taking a stab at landing a franchise running back, not necessarily grabbing one in the first round, but at least in one of the first three rounds. Dallas sure was attempting to draft one last year, but backs of choice kept going off the board from where the Cowboys had them graded, and then once the fifth round arrived, none of the backs they had evaluated were thought to be better than Dowdle. As it turns out, they might have been right after finally giving Dowdle a chance to be the guy in the final seven games of the season.
So here is the deal come the first round on Thursday. Judging from some predictions, there probably will be two to three running backs with first-round grades, and after Boise State's Ashton Jeanty, from Lone Star High School down the road here in Frisco, the other couple become the eye of the beholder.
But over the first three rounds, chances are that, after Jeanty, another seven running backs could be drafted. Guys such as the Ohio State tandem of Quinshon Judkins and Treveyon Henderson, North Carolina's Omarion Hampton, Iowa's Kaleb Johnson and possibly two other local high school backs in Oklahoma State's Ollie Gordon (Euless Trinity) and Miami's Damien Martinez (Lewisville High). Also, maybe one of my favorites, too, Arizona State's Cam Skattebo.
See, this not a Jeanty or bust running back draft, and with all the Cowboys' draft needs, even he might not be worth trading like a third-rounder to move up a few spots if he starts falling out of the top 5 or 6. But with the running back depth, along with other position depth, Cowboys COO Stephen Jones says there is a better possibility of trading back a skosh, likely no more than two or three places, to draft a player in the proper spot and then pick up maybe a third or fourth for their trouble.
And let's remember, this Cowboys team is not just one player away from, as like to say, turning an injury-riddled 7-10 team from last year into an 11-6 team this year. Nearly all positions are within reason in the first round. Wide receiver? You bet. Defensive end or tackle? You bet. Cornerback? You can double-down your bet on that one. Linebacker, a tackle capable of first playing guard? Why not.
Running back? Oh, yes ma'am. And don't even come in here devaluing the position by saying "not in the first round." Go ask Detroit about drafting Jahmyr Gibbs in the first round. Heck, just look at your Cowboys history, drafting in the first round Hill, Thomas, Dorsett, Emmitt and Elliott.
Jeanty would be the dream if falling to 12. Maybe even 10 if can go get him. This guy is different, and he can thank Barkley and Henry for re-valuing the running back position. Think about this: No running back over the past 30 years has been taken No. 1 in the draft since Ki-Jana Carter by the Bengals in 1995. That is 30 years ago.
No running back last year was drafted in the first round.
In fact, Barkley going No. 2 to the Giants in 2018 is the highest a running back has been drafted since the Saints selected Reggie Bush at No. 2 in 2006. The next highest to Barkley over the past 10 years would be at No. 4: Leonard Fournette in 2017 by Jacksonville and Zeke to the Cowboys in 2016.
Now, give Jeanty credit for marketing himself. The likely No. 1 running back in this draft penned a letter to every NFL general manager, which was also posted on The Players Tribune, extolling his character and why he should be one of the highest picks in this coming draft, the running back position notwithstanding.
He finished this way, followed by his No. 2 and signature:
I truly believe I was born to do this. And I truly believe what makes me different – it isn't about the position I line up at. It's about the mindset I bring to it.Those 11 dudes on defense … they're on a football field playing football. Me – in my mind? I'm still in the backyard with my friends, playing "no one can touch me." I've taken the long way. I'm done with that way. If you pick me, it's simple: I'm coming to your franchise to do what Saquon and the Eagles just did. I'm coming to win, big, soon. It's TACKLE football … you know what I'm saying? I'd draft the guy they can't tackle. Thank you for your time ...... - Ashton Jeanty
Now again, Jeanty falling to No. 12 is likely a pipe dream, even if the Cowboys want to go that path with their first-round pick, since plenty of running backs will still be available in the second and third rounds, possibly preferring to take a player at a position of less depth.
But hey, it's the draft, right? You just never know.
