Blogging The Boys
Here is what the Cowboys running back room looks like.
If there’s anything you can say about how the Dallas Cowboys handled their running back situation this year versus last year, you can say they were more proactive. The running back room was a mess in 2024 because the front office put their feelings before roster building when they banked on Ezekiel Elliott having something in the tank and passed on the opportunity to pass on notable runners that were available.
Ultimately, the Cowboys “settled” on Rico Dowdle midway through the season and it didn’t come a moment too soon as he took the reins and became a pretty good runner who ran for over 1,000 yards. Looking ahead into this season, the Cowboys have parted ways with both Elliott and Dowdle and look to start fresh at the position.
That’s not to say that they spent a ton of money on the position. Maybe a wise choice considering many thought they were to be drafting a runner early in the draft, yet still made out well in the later stages. Dallas also added two veteran runners in free agency. The best way to review the position in this edition of the roster series is to break it down into three different categories.
Miles Sanders:
Sanders comes to Dallas on a modest $1.3M contract with only $167K guaranteed via a signing bonus. What has happened to Sanders to be such a cheap commodity is a mystery. After signing with the Carolina Panthers as a free agent in 2023, he seemingly fell off a cliff with his production and his efficiency plummeted drastically.
Sanders, a veteran signed to usher Bryce Young along in his development, quickly took a secondary role to players like Chuba Hubbard and D’Onta Foreman. The Cowboys are hoping that Sanders can somehow recapture the form he had with the Eagles, which saw Sanders average five yards per carry with the Eagles and earn one trip to the Pro Bowl. Sanders does have upside as a pass catcher and provides value on third downs.
Javonte Williams:
Like Sanders, Javonte Williams had a great start to his career. As a rookie, he proved to be a rugged runner between the tackles and defenders would slip off him routinely. In his rookie season, he broke 31 tackles and more than half of his 903 rushing yards came after contact. Williams suffered a torn ACL in his second year and hasn’t seen the same consistency since.
Yet, there are flashes occasionally of what he used to be, and behind the right offensive line, could return to form. If there is one runner on the roster who has the most potential to have a breakout season, it’s Williams. A recommitment to the running game with new offensive coordinator Klayton Adams could fit Williams like a glove provided he stays healthy.
Jaydon Blue:
The Cowboys got themselves a home run hitter in the fifth round of the draft...
