To say the Dallas Cowboys have questions at the running back position this year is a bit of an understatement. This Cowboys position group has the dubious honors of being named the weakest RB room in the NFL and it’s hard to argue to the contrary.
Dallas purged their top two rushers from last season and replaced them with two of the lowest performing free agents on the market. Sure, Javonte Williams and Miles Sanders have standout seasons on their resumes, but those were years ago and there is no indication a return to glory is imminent for either. The Cowboys also added a pair of Day 3 rookies to the mix which adds an element of unknown to the situation. Optimists see that unknown as reason for hope. Pessimists see it as cause for further concern.
Cowboys’ RB strength: Offensive line
The Cowboys offensive line might be worrisome in pass protection but they are possible rockstars in run blocking. The middle of the offensive line is stacked, featuring two first-round picks at guard and a top 100 pick at center. All three are ascending players who have just scratched the surface of their potential. Terence Steele, the veteran right tackle, consistently grades at the top of the league as a run blocker while Tyler Guyton, the starting left tackle, is one of the more physically gifted tackles the NFL has to offer.
Since a RB can only be as good as the blockers in front of him, having a strong offensive line is essential for the Cowboys’ running game in 2025. Whoever wins the job RB should enjoy solid, if not spectacular, line-play in front of him.
Cowboys’ RB weakness: RB1
The Cowboys have more than enough complementary options on their roster but appear to lack a true RB1. Williams has the size and experience to be that guy, but his play has been so uninspiring over the past two seasons, giving him the bulk of the carries would be malfeasance. Similar things can be said for the veteran Sanders who was signed as a sort of one-year, $1,337,500 insurance policy.
Jaydon Blue, the first rookie selected, lacks the size and track record to be a realistic RB1 option and Phil Mafah, a seventh-round pick, is missing the pedigree that would even guarantee him a roster spot in 2025. For better or worse it looks like “committee or bust” and that might run as deep as four players on a weekly basis.
Cowboys’ RB wildcard: The rookie
A case can be made for both rookies since both carry a bit of the unknown along with some sky-high potential. Mafah, 6-foot-1, 234-pounds, is a big man with a physical playing style and a bad attitude. He appears to be the banger the Cowboys have been missing and could carve out an important role if things fall right.
Blue is the polar opposite, running more in the style of Jahmyr Gibbs. Blue is a big play waiting to happen with speed that sets him apart. For that reason, the real wildcard has to be him. The Texas rookie is a sure bet to make the roster but how big of a role he demands is completely up in the air. It could be nothing but a bit part and occasional change of pace, or it could be that he leads the team in yards from scrimmage.
If anyone can take this Cowboys running game from the depths of the up to a level to be feared, it’s Blue.
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This article originally appeared on Cowboys Wire: Rushin’ Roulette: Cowboys’ strengths, weaknesses at RB along with a 2025 wildcard
Reporting by Reid D Hanson, Cowboys Wire / Cowboys Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
