The Dallas Cowboys have made a free agent addition, signing NFL journeyman running back Royce Freeman to a one-year contract. ESPN's Todd Archer reported the news about X.
The Cowboys have signed running back Royce Freeman to a one-year contract, according to sources. Freeman had 77 carries for 319 yards and two touchdowns with the Los Angeles Rams last year. He was a third-round pick by Denver in 2018.
— Todd Archer (@toddarcher) April 17, 2024
Freeman, 28, was selected by the Denver Broncos in the third round of the 2018 NFL Draft. Freeman appeared in 14 games with Denver that season, rushing for 521 yards and five touchdowns. These remain his career highs.
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Freeman continued to get opportunities in 2019, appearing in all 16 games and throwing for 496 yards and three touchdowns. After that, his career stagnated somewhat.
In 2020, Freeman's final year in Denver, he rushed for 170 yards. In 2021, he totaled 169 yards with the Carolina Panthers and Houston Texans. And in Houston in 2022, he had 117 yards rushing.
Last year, Freeman found success again with the Los Angeles Rams, rushing for 319 yards and two touchdowns in 14 games. He was part of something of a revolving door of running backs in Los Angeles.
Freeman will join an inexperienced running back room in Dallas. Last year's starter, Tony Pollard, signed a three-year, $21.75 million contract with the Tennessee Titans in free agency. That leaves only Rico Doodle, Deuce Vaughn, Malik Davis and Snoop Conner in the backfield alongside Freeman.
Dowdle has been with the Cowboys since 2020 and has 96 rushes for 385 yards and two touchdowns in his career, but also has 17 catches for 144 yards and two touchdowns. Bourne was selected by the Cowboys in the sixth round of the 2023 NFL Draft and ran 23 times for 40 yards and had seven catches for 40 yards. Davis has been with the Cowboys since 2022 and has 38 rushes for 161 yards, one touchdown and six catches for 63 yards in his career. And Conner only has 12 rushes, 42 yards and one touchdown in his career with the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Archer said the addition of Freeman won't prevent the Cowboys from selecting a running back in next week's draft or even adding another in free agency. The Cowboys clearly lack a true No. 1 running back, and I don't think Freeman is the answer.
If the Cowboys want to add another running back in free agency, there are still several viable options, including J.K. Dobbins, Jerick McKinnon and former Cowboys star Ezekiel Elliott. If they want to add a running back in the draft, there are no obvious stars, but there are some familiar names, such as Michigan's Blake Collum and Florida State's Trey Benson.
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