As we know, the Dallas Cowboys are again not spending in free agency to get any better and go “all-in” like Jerry Jones said they would two months ago.
With the team losing a handful of starters on defense, Eric Kendricks is the only outside free agent the team has signed.
I want to talk first about the other side of the ball, the offense.
The Cowboys released Michael Gallup last week, and with Tony Pollard signing a contract with the Tennessee Titans, the Cowboys will likely take a running back earlier than they usually would.
Trey Benson
Let me cut right to the chase: Trey Benson from Florida State is my favorite running back in the draft.
Dallas will probably sign a veteran for the minimum, and then you can draft a guy like Benson to pair with him.
Total touches in college (RBs):
Jonathon Brooks: 266
Isaac Gurendo: 273
Marshawn Lloyd: 325
Trey Benson: 349
Jaylen Wright: 398
Audric Estime: 399
Bucky Irving: 570
Will Shipley: 611
Braelon Allen: 646
Blake Corum: 731
Ray Davis: 840 pic.twitter.com/Rq2j1DopoF— Marcus Mosher (@Marcus_Mosher) March 7, 2024
Benson has Kenneth Walker upside.
Benson was a force for their offense in his two seasons with Florida State.
He ran for 1,896 yards and 23 touchdowns. Benson was also used as a pass catcher; he hauled 33 receptions for 371 yards and scored a touchdown in two seasons.
What I like the most is that he has a few miles on him. Last season, he had just had four games with 14 or more carries, yet he still produced 5.8 yards a carry; that is nothing to overlook.
What now at running back with Tony Pollard gone? “We are looking at any player that can improve us in range that we can afford. We have talked to any guy who has called and listened to what their wishes or ranges are” per one source
— Jane Slater (@SlaterNFL) March 12, 2024
Others To Keep An Eye On
Johnathon Brooks from Texas is probably the best guy in the draft, but if Dallas doesn’t take him early enough, a team will take a chance on him.
He has everything: size, speed, and strength. Yet he is recovering from a torn ACL, which could make him slide during the draft in April.
Blake Corum from Michigan had the best offensive line in football on a team that won the National Championship.
One name that the Cowboys could land on, though late in the draft, is Braelon Allen from Wisconsin.
He is a big running back. I am a Michigan State fan, so I watched a lot of Big Ten football, and I found myself thinking that, due to his size and age (only 20), he could have a solid career at the next level.
Who knows what the Cowboys are going to do at this point? They need to worry about the offensive line with their pick at 24 in the first round, and then from there, your guess is as good as mine.
Jerry Jones does things his way, which is why they last won 30 years ago. He wastes the careers of Hall of Famers, yet he thinks he can fix all the problems repeatedly through the draft.
The Eagles and the Commanders got better this offseason, while the Cowboys have gotten much worse.
Recent Dallas Cowboys roster moves
Signed:
Eric Kendricks, LB
Jourdan Lewis, CB
C.J. Goodwin, ST
Trent Sieg, LSDepartures:
Tyron Smith, LT (Jets)
Tony Pollard, RB (Titans)
Dorance Armstrong, DE (Commanders)
Tyler Biadasz, C (Commanders)
Dante Fowler, DE (Commanders)
Neville…— Jon Machota (@jonmachota) March 16, 2024
They will be without at least five starters on defense and two on offense, Pollard and Gallup.
Jalen Tolbert will have to take a year-three leap, and hopefully, the running back they take in this year’s draft is ready to take a lot of carriers.
Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb will be great fantasy options, but will it translate to another 12-win season? I highly doubt it, and I thought this core would have a chance to bring something home, but who am I kidding? Until Jerry Jones gives up control, this team will never win anything.
As much as I want to talk about a signing they make, we know that is going to happen, so here I am talking about the NFL draft once again, because it is the only thing that this team cares about.
They don’t want to win now, and it is becoming a joke.