Cowboys Rookie Tipped To Be Offensive 'Wild Card'
The Dallas Cowboys' running back room is vastly different from a year ago, with some bullish on what the group can do behind a revamped offensive line.
Javonte Williams, Miles Sanders, and rookie Jaydon Blue are the top three, a far cry from Ezekiel Elliott and Rico Dowdle last season.
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With offensive coordinator Klayton Adams and offensive line coach Conor Riley both having skins on the wall developing top run games, the Cowboys, under Brian Schottenheimer, will be a tough, physical football team with the run game at the center of it.
Williams and Sanders are the two at the top of the depth chart right now, but the position is looming as one of the fiercely contested training camp battles, with Blue, Deuce Vaughn, and rookie Phil Mafah all fighting for snaps.
For ESPN's Mike Clay, Blue is a wild card to jump to the top of the depth chart.
Blue's workload was limited in a crowded Texas running back room (214 carries in three seasons), but he was an effective rusher -- his 3.8 career yards after contact per rush is fifth best in this class -- and showed receiving chops with 42 receptions in 2024," Clay writes. "He's a bit on the small size at 196 pounds and has had issues with holding onto the ball. However, the speed is there; he ran a 4.38 in the 40-yard dash.
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"Blue will begin his career behind newly acquired veterans Javonte Williams and Miles Sanders, but neither have played well in recent seasons, so this depth chart is wide open. The lead back role in Dallas is there for the taking."
Cowboys And Mr. Jaydon Blue At AttBy Tony Fisher
In an ideal world, yes, Blue shows out at training camp and leaves no doubt that he is the undisputed No. 1 back.
But Williams and Sanders both have NFL experience, are good pass protectors, and are solid options as receivers out of the backfield. All of those are key traits that Schottenheimer wants in his backs.
So it will be a big hill to climb for Blue, but with his 4.38 speed, he needs a role on offense.
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Will that be as the No. 1 back? He is a "wild card" option for sure.
Related: What's Cowboys 'Pull The Trigger' Reasoning On George Pickens Trade?
Related: Schottenheimer's Cowboys Offer Inside Look at 'Spicy Schedule'
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