FRISCO, TEXAS — There are less than three weeks until the NFL Draft. The Dallas Cowboys are in the final stages of their evaluation process before making seven picks in the currently scheduled draft and acquiring their carefully constructed undrafted free agent depth.
In our Pick Fit series, we look at each position group and which players would be a good fit for the Cowboys with each of the seven picks within that position group.
Let's start with the running backs.
Round 1, Pick 24: Jonathan Brooks (Texas): The chances of him being a first-round pick at the running back position are slim, to say the least. if The Cowboys decided to acquire a player named Jonathan Brooks. That makes the most sense. He would have definitely been the RB1 in this class if not for his recovery from a torn ACL (which was repaired by Cowboys chief team physician Dr. Dan Cooper), but that's because Dallas officially traded him at the combine. And this week is my 30th visit.
Round 2, Pick 56: Trey Benson (Florida State): Power back Trey Benson, who is expected to be one of the first back three to be released later this month, is a solid option to be selected at No. 56 if Jonathon Brooks leaves. Benson will bring immediate production on the heels of back-to-back seasons with over 900 yards on the ground.
Round 3, Pick 87: Braelon Allen (Wisconsin): If you're looking for a power back who can be relied upon for short yardage gains and as a pass protector, Braylon Allen, at 6-foot-1 and 235 pounds, might be the guy for you. In his three seasons as a mainstay back at Wisconsin, he gained nearly 3,500 yards on the ground and provided a physical presence at the line of scrimmage every time he initiated contact.
Round 5, Pick 174: Isaiah Davis (South Dakota State): Isaiah Davis won back-to-back national championships while rushing for over 1,400 yards in each year despite playing for a small FCS program. His 6-foot, 220-pound frame has a compact upper body to prevent contact with his long legs that take big strides in the open field.
Round 6, Pick 216: Tyrone Tracy Jr. (Purdue): An incredibly athletic presence out of the backfield, Tyrone Tracy Jr. uses his 5-foot-11, 209-pound frame to run a 4.48 speed in the 40-yard dash and 40-inch vertical jump. Masu. Tracy started his college career as a wide receiver at the University of Iowa, and combined his catching ability out of the backfield with an elusive running style, gaining 6.3 yards per carry in 2023.
Round 7, Pick 233: Jace McClellan (Alabama): McClellan, a local player from Aledo High School, brings interesting versatility despite a late showing on the third day. His stocky physique lends itself well to short yardage packages as well as pass protection. McClellan would be an interesting option if the Cowboys want to take a small, elusive back (i.e. Oregon's Bucky Irving) early in the draft and pair him with a more physical back later.
Round 7, Pick 244: Kimani Vidal (Troy): Despite being 5-foot-8, Kimani Vidal is a physical runner and uses his 213-pound frame to serve as a bowling ball and initiate contact from the backfield. Vidal ran for 1,661 yards as a senior. If you want proof that he can handle a big workload, just look at his 297 carries in 2023.
UDFA: Jayden Silden (Monmouth): The Cowboys could be incentivized to acquire additional running backs on the undrafted free agent market, but if they only draft one, Jaden Schilden is a product of his time at Monmouth. . Small and light, Schaden used his elusive running style to rush for exactly 3,200 yards and 23 touchdowns in his final two seasons with the Hawks.
