(Note: The content provided is based on the opinions and perspectives of the DallasCowboys.com editorial staff, not the Cowboys football staff or organization.)
Frisco, Texas — Ezekiel Elliott left a bigger void than many anticipated when the Dallas Cowboys opted to move on from their record-setting running back in 2023, but head coach Mike McCarthy said he will continue to move on from last season's rushing attack. admitted that the regular season was “substandard” for most of the team.
Indeed, Pollard was able to achieve his second 1,000-yard season on the ground, but his campaign, while solid, was middling and uneven. But some of that was due to the merry-go-round happening right in front of him on the offensive line.
There was also Dowdle, who had the best season of his young career but didn't see the field as much as he would have liked. And he now joins Pollard as a free agent, as expected.
And speaking of free agency, a potential overhaul of Dallas' RB room presents a huge opportunity for the Cowboys…tell me: go “all in” with a dynamic workhorse back at RB1 and start the season with It is to reset the role towards. Offseason program.
for your information: *Be sure to check out the entire “What's Next?” ****'* As an introduction to this series.
Here's what you'll find:
Tony Pollard: Everything was in place for 2023, but Tony Pollard finished the season with enough performance to consider re-signing for 2024, but he will take ownership of the RB1 title in 2024. It wasn't enough to make a case. The era after Ezekiel Elliott. The fully guaranteed franchise tag he enjoyed last season is a double-up, especially if he remains in Dallas, but with the ability to revert to RB2, where he had much more explosive power. There is a high possibility that it will not be seen.
The bottom line here is that Pollard is worth keeping around, but only at a more reasonable price and if future plans include returning him to where he excelled since high school. .
Rico Doodle: It felt as if the Cowboys had learned the benefits of having a dynamic tandem at running back, such as splitting reps between the top two, but we've seen little of that over the past few months. There wasn't. It was mostly Pollard's show, and Dowdle was very productive with limited reps, but that's exactly what happened: limited by the reps. Still, I've seen enough from Dowdle finally getting healthy that he would be an option to stay, but it would almost always be an “either/or” scenario with Pollard . And as an RB2 associated with an RB1 with a completely different skill set.
Dowdle is limited As a free agent, the Cowboys have the right to match any offer he receives, so they can easily keep him if they wish.
youth movement: Say what you want about Pollard and Dowdle, but both showed much more than they did in their younger years. Davis went from being locked in a training camp battle with Dowdle in 2022 (winning the RB3 role behind Elliott and Pollard due to Dowdle suffering a hip injury) to being locked in a training camp battle with Dowdle in his second season. He struggled to make the game-day roster and largely succumbed to player additions. Lupke.
The latter was by far the best of the rest, as fellow rookie Deuce Vaughn was a huge failure as a rookie with an unforgettable first year that ended on injured reserve. These three have now been introduced to Snoop Conner, who has signed a futures deal to create more competition.
Overall, the Cowboys' running back room has major wrinkles that need ironing out, and they'd better do it both in free agency. and 2024 NFL Draft.
But for now, let's focus on free agency.
What's there:
Note: These players will have their restrictions lifted on March 13th unless they have signed a new contract with their current team before that date.
Derrick Henry: Let me be frank here: I don't see any argument that Henry is in any way depressed or on the verge of becoming depressed now that he's reached age 30 (a normal event horizon for someone in this position). I would like to let you know that I have not accepted it. Henry was, and still is, very different from other players, and despite the number of snaps he has logged in his career, he continues to play great. is easily proven.
This player has never had fewer than 10 touchdowns in any of the past six seasons and has rushed for over 3,600 rushing yards (and 35 touchdowns) in the last three seasons alone, and that's due to QB issues that have caused the offense as a whole to suffer. Despite that. And the departure of AJ Brown via trade to the Eagles (so if the defense throws sinks at him, it doesn't matter).
Have you had a bad day? it doesn't matter. O-line problem? it doesn't matter. The 4-time Pro Bowler, 2-time NFL rushing leader, and 2-time NFL rushing touchdown leader (and and and) has played this game like no one has seen in the post-Adrian Peterson era. He got the job done in the league.
Sign him, Dallas. …. *throws pen*
D'Andre Swift: For Swift, who joined the Eagles in 2023, this year was a comeback, and dare I say, breakout year. He doesn't have the personal resume, the foreign skill set, or Henry's physique — which, to be fair, no one else has — other than Swift. Now, he's proven he can stay healthy and be a starter in the NFL for an entire season, and he's been very productive during it. He became the first professional to eclipse the 1,000-yard mark, but he's only been there for four seasons. That means there's still plenty of time left before the former second-round pick out of Georgia likely starts to wear out.
Swift, who was soon tipped to make the Pro Bowl in 2023, would immediately upgrade Dallas' running back room while weakening their NFC rival's entire offense, and that's just good business. . Swift is cheaper and a few years younger than Henry for obvious reasons, but all that has to be balanced against the fact that the defense respects Swift but fears Henry.
To be honest, there are pros and cons to both.
Saquon Barkley: Speaking of respect, opposing defenses have plenty of respect for Barkley, a former No. 2 overall pick of the Giants who has become one of the most dynamic running backs in the league as a rookie. You could argue that. But things have been wildly tumultuous since then, with durability issues derailing Barkley's promising young career at almost every turn. Uneven quarterback play and a porous offensive line allowed defenses to focus on him, but unlike Henry, Barkley consistently struggled to counteract their efforts.
Still, Barkley is one of the best players in the league at his position, which is why the Giants placed the franchise tag on Barkley in 2023 and added $2 million to his salary to convince him to sign a contract. , there is a good chance of acquiring a franchise. He will team up for a second time this offseason, but if that doesn't happen, he's a strong candidate to leave the Cowboys' rivalry and unite with good friend and fellow Nittany Lion Micah Parsons. person.
What I'm taking issue with here is the fact that Barkley is ultimately going to get a big second contract, but that hasn't happened to him so far, so maybe he'll end up getting a big second contract at some point. I'll probably withdraw from this negotiation, but if not, I'll welcome it. Open your arms to his abilities.
Honorable mention: Josh Jacobs, Austin Ekeler, JK Dobbins (ruptured Achilles tendon), AJ Dillon, Zack Moss — The remaining group of attractive names suffer from uncomfortably high salaries (Henry is the only one I feel comfortable getting a raise in), durability issues, recent declines in performance, and/or I expect I'm having trouble with a build that doesn't work. I believe that's what the Cowboys are asking for at RB1. Still, he's worth considering, but not as a primary option in free agency.
