The Dallas Cowboys’ decision to wait until the fifth round of the 2025 NFL draft to address the running back position didn’t go unnoticed. Fans and media alike questioned the brazenness of the move, pointing to Dallas’ modest depth chart and the team’s insistence the running game will be a bigger part of the offense in 2025.
It seemed either the Cowboys knew something about Jaydon Blue the rest of the football world didn’t, or they simply didn’t see the position as a very valuable one in the modern NFL. While there’s a good chance a certain degree of the latter is true, there’s also reason to believe the former theory is true as well.
Most draftniks will attest, Blue is a tantalizing NFL prospect. His 4.38 timed speed was second in the draft class and his highlight reel backed it up, showing a player who could go the house at any given moment, in any given situation.
With big-play ability that can’t be taught, it says something that he fell all the way to the Cowboys in the fifth round. Blue was a role player in Texas with just 1,161 rushing yards throughout his three-year career at Texas. His five fumbles in 2024 alone where not out of character for the 5-foot-9, 195-pound RB. Per the Athletic’s Dane Brugler, his consistency was suspect as was his patience and lane recognition.
With only 214 carries in three years and a career role that peaked at “second fiddle,” he’s an interesting horse for the Cowboys to hitch their wagon to. Unless, of course, they think the best is yet to come and Blue is a moldable weapon who, up until now, has been an unfortunate product of his circumstances.
Texas might not be Running Back U officially, but they could certainly make a claim based on recent years. UT has been churning out prospect after prospect and have had no shortage of bell cows and bruisers along the way. It’s no wonder why Blue has struggled to get opportunities and why he’s seemingly embraced the home run hitter role as a complementary rusher. It’s possibly led to his impatient running style and his prioritization of big plays over ball security.
His low usage rate is certainly a red flag, but it also explains a lot and may even be his saving grace. Blue isn’t a bell cow, but he also isn’t as slight as some might suggest. He’s a well-built player, capable of working in an evenly split timeshare rather than automatically resigned to a secondary role. His ability to thrive in the passing game also works in his favor since it allows him to work in space more, away from the wear and tear that happens between the tackles.
Blue comes to the Cowboys with low milage on his tires and a pretty darn good excuse why. He has to develop as a rusher, showing patience and vision between the tackles, but it’s not an unreasonable request if the coaching is focused and expectations are set.
Blue is a true boom or bust player for the Cowboys, but no one should rush to judgement on which category he best fits until he’s been given time to adapt to the role he’s now being asked.
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This article originally appeared on Cowboys Wire: Cowboys rookie’s red flags could be the reason he becomes phenomenal as a pro
Reporting by Reid D Hanson, Cowboys Wire / Cowboys Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
