There are many options for the Dallas Cowboys to acquire the No. 24 pick in the NFL Draft. The defensive spine has room for improvement, but the offensive line is much less stout than last season, and the offense is in much need of an upgrade beyond Michael Gallup on the perimeter.
Dallas also has big needs in the backfield, and picking one on the first day of the draft could fill the streets around The Star. As such, the Cowboys will likely acquire a running back at some point, but the pick and subsequent commitment will be less.
If Dallas is confident in its ground game, it should check out replacement running back Tony Pollard before the draft ends. Who can you target within two weeks?
Texas Longhorns running back Jonathan Brooks (24) jumps over Oklahoma Sooners defensive back Reggie.
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Pro Football Focus recently announced the results of its favorite games from Days 2 and 3. In the Cowboys' case, both candidates happened to be in the backfield.
There's little consensus on the top running back in this year's class, and virtually no mock drafts are bold enough to move him back in the first round. That should temper expectations for a potential rookie running back, but it doesn't mean a legitimate starter will be found on Day 2.
Among the candidates is a familiar face: Texas running back Jonathan Brooks.
“The Cowboys lost Tony Pollard in free agency, leaving Rico Doodle as the starter with less than 400 rushing yards in his career,” wrote Dalton Wasserman. “Jonathon Brooks, the top running back on PFF's big board, makes a lot of sense as a replacement for Pollard if he recovers from a torn ACL. Brooks was a defensive back for Doak last season before his injury. He was likely aiming for the Walker Award.
Brooks may be the favorite to go to Frisco, as he looks a lot like the strong threat Pollard had in 2022. As a complement to Ezekiel Elliott, Pollard emerged as a running runner and receiver who repeatedly made big plays and took on the load in the passing game.
Brooks has just as much explosive power as Pollard, if not more. Despite some deficiencies in his footwork and vision that hinder his stock, there are reasons to be excited about his impact in zone rushing schemes.
If the Cowboys kick the can at running back and wait until Day 3, Wisconsin's Braylon Allen could end up with an asterisk on the side of his helmet. For those who are not satisfied with the leadership of the group during a retreat, delaying the decision may be welcomed. Why spend a top 100 pick on a prospect you don't think is significantly better than his late-round opponent?
“Allen's size and power made him difficult to beat in college,” wrote Gordon McGuinness. “He averaged 3.66 yards per carry after contact and forced 145 missed tackles on 596 carries over the past three seasons. He's only 20 years old and has a tremendous amount of work to do in college. Nevertheless, it is an advantage for him.”
If Dallas chooses a bigger back, Allen fits the bill. He is stronger than Brooks and naturally provides more consistent power between the tackles. For fans who remember Elliott more fondly than Pollard, there's a lot to like about Allen.
He is more consistent and has the long speed to hit home runs, but struggled to be as powerful and elusive in 2023 as he was in previous campaigns. Given his age and pedigree, he'll likely get some play as a bellcow for the team that drafted him.
Potential improvements to Dallas' offensive line would be more meaningful to the run game's success than the backs they bring in, but if the team continues on its current path under center, the offense The importance of pulling out big plays from that aspect of the game will only increase.
