The Dallas Cowboys did not draft a running back in this year’s draft, but they resigned Ezekiel Elliott.
Monday was filled with rumors that Dallas was linked to a trade for Pittsburgh Steelers running back, Najee Harris.
This came about when the Steelers declined his fifth-year option.
While Harris would become the best running back in the Cowboys room, Cowboys NFL Network reporter Jane Slater gave us all an update by tweeting yesterday evening that a team source told her all of this was “clickbait.”
https://twitter.com/SlaterNFL/status/1787603465864192261
He Would Make the Team Better
I am not saying Harris is prime Adrian Peterson, but if Dallas did trade for him, he would be the best running back in the locker room the moment he got there.
He made the Pro Bowl as a rookie in 2021 and has totaled 1200+ yards from scrimmage in each of his three seasons.
But the reality is that the Steelers have three viable RBs, and Harris might be too expensive.
As Pro Football Reference shows, Harris exploded onto the scene in 2021.
He racked up 1667 total yards and 10 touchdowns, making the Pro Bowl but missing on the All-Pro squad.
Harris has never had a season under 1,000 yards rushing.
He had a “down” year in 2023 and still finished with 1035 yards and scored 8 touchdowns.
Harris would make the team better the moment he walked into the building, but as we all know, Jerry Jones loves his guys, and will never do anything to make the team better.
What To Expect From the RB Room in 2024
It sure sounds clear that the Cowboys won’t even attempt to make a trade for a running back that would make them better before the season starts in September.
So with that, what is the outlook for possibly the worst running back room in all of football?
I am not hating, but if you can find me a worse backfield than what Dallas is working with, let me know.
I am sure this will be a running back by committee from the jump with Zeke probably leading the pack.
You can’t ignore the limited success he had when running the ball for the Patriots last season.
“He will give you enough to make it serviceable with running back by committee.”@keyshawn on the impact Zeke will have on the Cowboys pic.twitter.com/CgpZv0oZjw
— UNDISPUTED (@undisputed) May 2, 2024
Rushing for a career-low 3.5 yards per carry, big runs and consistent gains were just not there for him.
That stat has been steadily decreasing for Elliott since the 2019 season.
No team is going to be worried about the Dallas Cowboys rushing attack, heck they could line CeeDee Lamb up in the backfield and probably have more success.
Most of us thought, myself included that Tony Pollard would be a solid guy taking over the RB1 role a year ago, boy that didn’t go well.
It took him the entire season to eclipse 1,000 yards.
At the end of the day, it sucks that Jerry wouldn’t even try to make a call and see if the Steelers would be willing to trade him for something in the Cowboys ballpark.
Why does this team avoid doing anything to make the team better?
You add a running back who has run for over 1,000 yards in his first three seasons as a pro. You become better from the jump.
Jerry Jones does it to us again… pic.twitter.com/uT0RmsC0j3
— Michael Fabiano (@Michael_Fabiano) April 28, 2024
Zeke doesn’t have 250 carries in him anymore, and I like Rico Dowdle. But we are looking at running back by committee as we head into the 2024 season.
This season is going to be an interesting one.
They have yet to sign Lamb or Micah Parsons. The Jones family waiting until the market continues to explode which is costing them more money, it makes no sense.
Being content and not trying to improve the roster just blows my mind.
I can’t believe I actually thought Jerry was going to try and go “all-in,” this season.
