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The running back battle is one of the more intriguing situations on the Cowboys roster.
SAFE (2): Javonte Williams, Jaydon Blue
When Schottenheimer said this offseason that he uses multiple receiving backs in his offensive system, Javonte Williams and Jaydon Blue immediately came to mind. Williams’ 52 receptions in 2024 with the Denver Broncos was the sixth-most across the league at the running back position, and Blue’s 368 receiving yards were the 10th-most among all FBS running backs in college football last season.
There isn’t a solidified starter in the room just yet, and that player could very well come from outside of this duo. But with the receiving ability of Williams and Blue, it would be tough to find a reality where either are not on the roster on cut day.
ON THE BUBBLE (3): Miles Sanders, Phil Mafah, Hunter Luepke
Miles Sanders is about as close to being in the “safe” category as a player could be after a strong showing in OTAs and minicamp in his first offseason with the team, but he remains on the bubble because of his recent on-field performances over the last two years (637 yards and three touchdowns in 27 games). If he had been signed to a multi-year contract in free agency, maybe there would be more confidence in his ability to be a safe option going into camp.
What Schottenheimer decides to do with the running back position will be interesting, as the standard three running backs on a 53-man roster could see an exception if he decides to carry a fourth. Hunter Luepke doesn’t necessarily factor into that thinking with his unique role as a fullback and outside blocker, but Schottenheimer hasn’t yet commented on if he values his role as much as Mike McCarthy did.
Rookie Phil Mafah is probably the biggest question mark in the room. While he does bring more physicality and potentially more value in short yardage situations, can he be productive at the NFL level without breakaway speed and a receiving game to match?
Dallas certainly needs to get more modern on offense.
Predictability can be an NFL offense’s worst enemy. In today’s game, deception is almost as important as the talent on the field. If opposing teams what to expect before the snap, then they are smart enough to know how to beat it. While this applies to both sides of the ball, it is one of the many changes Cowboys fans hope to see implemented from new head coach Brian Schottenheimer in 2025.
When it comes to their offensive tendencies, Dallas needs to declare independence from transparency. It’s one of few advantages of...
