$38 million, 4x Pro Bowl runner among several options for Cowboys to boost RB room
$38 million, 4x Pro Bowl runner among several options for Cowboys to boost RB room
The Dallas Cowboys have the unfortunate distinction of 2025's weakest running back room. Apparently the collective of Jaydon Blue, Javonte Williams, Miles Sanders, Phil Mafah, Hunter Luepke and Deuce Vaughn do little to impress the national media.
With the major portion of free agency long gone, and the draft nothing but a distant memory, there's a temptation to accept this fate and hope someone on the roster outplays their expectations in training camp. But what about aftermarket upgrades?
Just because the traditional avenues of upgrades have been exhausted doesn't mean the Cowboys are out of options completely. Dallas could still upgrade their RB room either by way of trades, waiting until final roster cuts are made or even looking at those lingering free agents unclaimed on the market.
NFL free agents
Ameer Abdullah, Nick Chubb and Gus Edwards are a few options who could represent upgrades on the Cowboys' roster. It's doubtful any of them are starter level at this point in their respective careers, but if veterans like Williams or Sanders falter, one of these three could be seen as reasonable solutions.
It's unlikely and probably unnecessary for the Cowboys to do anything before they see what they have in training camp, but veterans options are there if Dallas needs them.
NFL roster cuts
With such a deep RB class hitting the NFL this draft cycle, good players are sure to hit the market once roster cuts take place after training camp. Waiting it out requires patience but if Blue shows he's the player the front office hopes he is, patience could be afforded.
Front end starters might not be cut cut loose, but players worthy of roles in a committee certainly could. The Cowboys' current stable of RBs aren't just competing against each other, they're competing against the bottom of everyone's roster.
RB trade market
The Cowboys love their draft picks and have already sent off a series of future draft picks in trades this offseason, so this probably isn't their preferred option, but more than a few attractive players are buried on their respective depth charts this year. That makes it a buyer's market for Dallas.
Pro Football Focus recently named the Baltimore Ravens RB room the deepest in the NFL. Justice Hill and Keaton Mitchell are stuck behind arguably the best RB in the NFL. It's possible one of them could be attainable for a mid-Day 3 draft pick. Breece Hall may be made available by the New York Jets as might Jerome Ford in Cleveland or Audric Estime in Denver.
You can follow Reid on X @ReidDHanson and be sure to follow Cowboys Wire on Facebook to join in on the conversation with fellow fans!
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