Jerry Jones loves a bargain. Or at least, he loves the idea of a bargain when it comes to the most devalued position in modern football. But honestly, looking at the current state of the Dallas Cowboys backfield, it’s hard to argue that "all in" actually meant what fans thought it meant. The Cowboys running back decision heading into this cycle isn't just about finding a guy who can pass block; it’s about fixing a fundamental identity crisis that has plagued the Star for years.
The run game used to be the engine. Now, it's more like a flickering pilot light.
Let's be real for a second. When Tony Pollard left for Tennessee, there was this collective breath-holding in Arlington. People expected a splash. Instead, we got a reunion with Ezekiel Elliott and a committee approach that felt more like a trip down memory lane than a forward-thinking strategy. It was safe. It was familiar. And frankly, it was underwhelming for a team that claims to be a Super Bowl contender.
Why the Status Quo is Killing the Offense
If you watch the tape from the last few seasons, the lack of explosive plays from the backfield is glaring. Mike McCarthy wants to run the ball. He talks about it in every press conference. He mentions "complementary football" like it's a religious mantra. But you can't have a complementary run game when the defense doesn't fear the guy taking the handoff.
Last year, the Cowboys ranked near the bottom of the league in "big play" run percentage.
💡 You might also like: Cómo entender la tabla de Copa Oro y por qué los puntos no siempre cuentan la historia completa
Success in the NFL right now is built on efficiency and the threat of the home run. When Dak Prescott is forced to throw 45 times a game because the ground game is generating 3.2 yards per carry on first down, you're playing with fire. It puts too much stress on the offensive line and allows edge rushers to pin their ears back. The Cowboys running back decision isn't just a personnel choice; it’s a tactical necessity to save Dak from unnecessary hits.
The Zeke Experiment and the Veteran Trap
Bringing Zeke back wasn't the worst move in the world from a locker room perspective. He’s a leader. He knows the protections. He’s a goal-line bruiser who still has some value in short-yardage situations. But he isn't the guy who leaped over defenders in 2016. Nobody expects him to be. The problem arises when "veteran presence" becomes a crutch for "lack of better options."
Rico Dowdle has shown flashes. He has juice. He’s got that lateral agility that Zeke has naturally lost over the years. But is Rico a true RB1 on a championship team? That's the question the front office keeps dodging. By spreading the carries among a group of "just okay" guys, the Cowboys are essentially admitting they don't have a game-changer.
Think about the teams that actually make deep runs. Look at the 49ers with Christian McCaffrey or even the Lions with their two-headed monster of Gibbs and Montgomery. Those teams have an identity. The Cowboys are currently a pass-first team that wishes it could run, which is a dangerous way to live in January when the wind starts blowing in places like Philly or Green Bay.
📖 Related: Ohio State Football All White Uniforms: Why the Icy Look Always Sparks a Debate
The Draft vs. Free Agency: The Million Dollar Question
The Cowboys running back decision usually comes down to the Jones family’s valuation of the position. They’ve been burned by the massive Zeke contract in the past, which seems to have given them a permanent case of "sticker shock" when it comes to paying RBs.
But there’s a middle ground.
- The Draft Route: History shows you can find elite talent in the second and third rounds. Look at Breece Hall or Jonathan Taylor. You don't need to spend a Top 10 pick to get a Top 5 producer.
- The "Value" Veteran: This is where the Cowboys usually shop, looking for the 27-year-old on a one-year "prove it" deal. It’s low risk, but as we’ve seen, it’s often low reward.
- The Trade Market: Occasionally, a disgruntled star becomes available. But with the Cowboys' cap situation—Dak and CeeDee Lamb's massive numbers looming over everything—this feels like a pipe dream.
Honestly, the draft is where the Cowboys must win. They need fresh legs. They need a guy on a rookie scale contract who can give them 1,200 scrimmage yards. The trend across the league is moving toward younger, more versatile backs who can catch passes out of the backfield just as well as they can hit the A-gap. If Dallas ignores this in the upcoming draft, they are essentially punting on the idea of a balanced offense.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Dallas Run Game
People love to blame the offensive line. And yeah, the line isn't the "Great Wall of Dallas" anymore. Losing future Hall of Famers like Tyron Smith changes things. But a great running back makes the line look better, not just the other way around.
👉 See also: Who Won the Golf Tournament This Weekend: Richard T. Lee and the 2026 Season Kickoff
A back with elite vision can find the cutback lane that a replacement-level player misses. A back with elite contact balance can turn a 2-yard loss into a 4-yard gain. Those hidden yards are the difference between 3rd-and-8 and 3rd-and-short. When the Cowboys running back decision results in a lack of "creativity" in the backfield, the entire playbook shrinks. McCarthy can’t call those creative screens or delayed draws if the defense isn't worried about the back's speed.
Addressing the Identity Crisis
What are the Dallas Cowboys? Right now, they are a high-flying circus act that occasionally gets stuck in the mud.
To fix it, the front office needs to stop looking at the running back position as a commodity and start looking at it as an investment. The "RB doesn't matter" analytics crowd has some points, sure. You shouldn't pay a guy $15 million a year if he's one-dimensional. But you also shouldn't ignore the position until it becomes a glaring weakness that ruins your season.
Expert scouts often point to the "yards after contact" metric as the true teller of a back's worth. If your backs are consistently going down on the first hit, your scheme doesn't matter. You need a guy who can break a tackle and change the momentum of a game.
Actionable Insights for the Cowboys Offseason
The path forward isn't complicated, but it requires a shift in philosophy. The Cowboys running back decision needs to be proactive rather than reactive.
- Prioritize a Day 2 Draft Pick: Look for a back with "three-down" capability. The Cowboys can no longer afford to telegraph their plays based on which back is in the game. If Zeke is in, it's a run or a block. If a scat-back is in, it's a pass. That’s too easy for modern defensive coordinators to read.
- Stop the Nostalgia Tours: While leadership is great, roster spots are limited. Use those spots for high-upside players who can contribute on special teams and grow into larger roles.
- Scheme for the Personnel: If the front office refuses to bring in a superstar, the coaching staff must get more creative with "Pony" sets (two RBs) or using wide receivers in the backfield to create mismatches.
- Invest in the Interior: A running back is only as good as the holes he can see. If the center and guard positions are inconsistent, even a prime Barry Sanders would struggle. The running back decision is inextricably linked to how they rebuild the middle of that offensive line.
The Cowboys have a window. It might be closing faster than they realize. Whether they find a true lead dog or continue to play "running back by committee" roulette will likely determine if they can finally break their decades-long NFC Championship drought. It's time to stop playing it safe and start playing to win.