It’s no secret that the Dallas Cowboys did not improve in anyway thus far this offseason.
With that said, we should expect them to draft both a share of offensive and defensive players in a few weeks.
The Cowboys running back room currently sits with Rico Dowdle and Deuce Vaughn.
NFL teams that have spent the least this offseason.
This includes free agents, extensions, waivers, and trades: pic.twitter.com/2bsu5YSLnp
— Bobby Belt (@BobbyBeltTX) March 25, 2024
Look around the NFC, this is going to be the worst running back room in the conference and it’s really not even close. I hope they prove me wrong, but as it sits today, everyone else has something better to offer.
2024 Outlook
We will get into the NFL draft in a moment, but for the Cowboys to not bring in a veteran, even a guy like Dalvin Cook who they could get for cheap is crazy to me, regardless of the cap situation.
Dowdle rushed for 361 yards on 89 carries (4.1 yards per carry) and scored a pair of touchdowns. He added two more scores and 144 yards on 17 receptions.
Sure that is good for someone who is a backup, but if Tony Pollard struggled to handle the load last year, if Rico is the guy what do you think he’ll do?
Dallas Cowboys offseason roster moves
Signed:
Eric Kendricks, LB
Jourdan Lewis, CB
Rico Dowdle, RB
Chuma Edoga, OL
C.J. Goodwin, ST
Trent Sieg, LSDepartures:
Tyron Smith, LT (Jets)
Tony Pollard, RB (Titans)
Johnathan Hankins, DT (Seahawks)
Dorance Armstrong, DE (Commanders)…— Jon Machota (@jonmachota) April 3, 2024
Pollard signed a three-year, $24 million deal with the Tennessee Titans.
The offensive line got worse, Michael Gallup is gone on the outside, nobody is going to worry about Dowdle running the football.
NFL Draft
As you should know by now, it should be clear that at some point the Cowboys are going to end up drafting a running back.
I’ve seen mock having them draft one as high as the second round, and as low as the 5th, I have no idea what they are going to do.
Johnathan Brooks from Texas is the name that most have highlighted for Dallas, a hometown guy that could fit right in.
As a junior, Brooks averaged 6.1 yards per carry while running for 1,139 yards and 10 touchdowns.
He impressed on all three downs, making 25 receptions for 286 yards and a touchdown.
As much as everyone likes Brooks, I’ve got my eye on Trey Benson, the running back from Florida State, he is who I want Dallas to draft if they do so.
Add #FSU RB Trey Benson to the list of big-time prospects visiting the #Cowboys today and tomorrow. https://t.co/5ViZyZqqRs
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) April 3, 2024
Both Benson and Brooks have torn their ACL, but it looked as if it bothered either last season, so that is good news.
Last year, Benson had154 rushes for 990 yards, 6.4 yards per carry average, and nine touchdowns.
He caught 13 balls for 144 yards with an 11.1 average yards per reception. He earned Second Team All-ACC.
Regardless of who they draft, the running back unit for Dallas is going to be one of, if not the weakest in the conference.
They had their chance, didn’t call Derrick Henry, let Pollard walk who probably would have taken a pay cut to stay in Dallas.
Dalvin Cooks is still around if you want to take a chance, but they will probably opt to go younger.
The Dallas Cowboys could look even more different at the end of the season.
This team will be lucky if they aren’t blowing it up by Thanksgiving, I don’t see how this football team can even win 10 games, they lost way to much depth and a few starters.
It’s fair to say Mike McCarthy and Dak Prescott are probably playing for their future in Dallas and if they don’t do anything again, well it might be time.
