The Dallas Cowboys avoided selecting a running back in the 2024 NFL Draft, but they still added a new face to the position.
Well, Ezekiel Elliott isn't exactly a new face for Dallas, but the position group still looks different than the team he entered in 2023. Let's take a look at how the Cowboys run now that Tony Pollard is gone and Elliott is back at North Texas. The backroom is getting ready for the 2024 season:
Ezekiel Elliott
After one season with the New England Patriots, Elliott returned to Dallas. He finished the 2022 season with 876 rushing yards, but was initially released by the Cowboys in March 2023 after not having a 100-yard rushing game.
Elliott is Dallas' third all-time leading rusher, racking up 8,262 yards and 68 points on the ground in his final stint with the franchise. He was New England's leading rusher last season with 642 rushing yards. Elliott returned to the Cowboys on a one-year contract worth up to $3 million.
Statistics for 2023: 184 carries, 642 yards, 3 rushing touchdowns. 51 receptions, 313 yards, 2 receiving touchdowns.
Career statistics: 2,065 carries for 8,904 yards and 71 rushing touchdowns. 356 receptions, 2,649 yards, 14 receiving touchdowns.
Rico Doodle
Doodle had the most productive season of his career in 2023, rushing for 361 yards and two touchdowns on 89 carries. He spent most of the season as Pollard's second option, appearing in 16 games.
After suffering injuries in his first two seasons as a professional, Dowdle opted to re-sign with the Cowboys this offseason. He agreed to a one-year contract worth $1.255 million.
Statistics for 2023: 89 carries, 361 yards, 2 rushing touchdowns. 17 catches, 144 yards, 2 receiving touchdowns.
Career statistics: 96 carries, 385 yards, 2 rushing touchdowns. 17 catches, 144 yards, 2 receiving touchdowns.
deuce vaughn
Bourne was inactive for most of his rookie season in 2023, appearing in seven games for the Cowboys. Vaughn, a sixth-round pick out of Kansas State, had 23 carries for 40 yards last season. He returned four punts for 19 yards and could be a special teams option.
Vaughn is considered a top pick for the Cowboys in the 2023 draft and showed promise during the team's preseason outing. Will the second-year returnee get a bit more of a long run with Elliott back on the team?
Statistics for 2023: 40 yards on 23 carries. 7 catches for 40 yards.
Career statistics: 40 yards on 23 carries. 7 catches for 40 yards.
lois freeman
Freeman, a veteran journeyman, is one of two outside additions at the position. He recently spent the 2023 season with the Los Angeles Rams, making Dallas the fifth NFL team of his career.
His most productive season was in 2018 as a rookie with the Denver Broncos, where he ran for 521 yards and five touchdowns on 130 carries. Freeman was a third-round pick by the Broncos out of Oregon State in 2018.
Statistics for 2023: 77 carries, 319 yards, 2 rushing touchdowns. 1 catch for 13 yards.
Career statistics: 471 carries for 1,792 yards and 10 rushing touchdowns. 86 catches, 532 yards, 1 touchdown reception.
hunter luepke
Lupke was one of two rookies in Dallas' backfield last season, but most of his action was at fullback. He was named to the Cowboys roster as an undrafted free agent out of North Dakota State.
His only touchdown came on a 3-yard carry in Week 4 against the Patriots.
Statistics for 2023: Six carries for 19 yards and one rushing touchdown. Three catches for 18 yards.
Career statistics: Six carries for 19 yards and one rushing touchdown. 3 catches for 18 yards.
Malik Davis
After spending the past two seasons in Dallas, Davis signed a reserve/future contract in January, ensuring he remains with the Cowboys. He played in just three games last season, primarily playing a backup role behind Pollard and Doodle.
Davis originally landed in Dallas as an undrafted rookie out of Florida in 2022.
Statistics for 2023: There are no carries or receives.
Career statistics: 38 carries for 161 yards and one rushing touchdown. 6 catches for 63 yards.
snoop conner
Like Davis, Conner joined the Cowboys on a reserve/future contract in January. He spent parts of the past two seasons with the Jacksonville Jaguars, joining the team's practice squad in 2023.
The Jaguars selected Conner in the fifth round of the 2022 NFL Draft.
Statistics for 2023: There are no carries or receives.
Career statistics: 12 carries for 42 yards and one rushing touchdown.
Nathaniel Pete
Despite not using a draft pick on a prospect, Dallas still found a way to add a rookie to the running back mix. The Cowboys agreed to terms with Pete over the weekend as an undrafted free agent.
Pete was Missouri's third-leading rusher last season, rushing for 347 yards and three touchdowns on 76 carries. He originally started his college career at Stanford University and transferred to Missouri State in 2022.
2023 Statistics (Missouri): 76 carries, 317 yards, 3 rushing touchdowns. He had six catches for 81 yards and one touchdown reception.
University statistics: 293 carries for 1,420 yards and nine rushing touchdowns. 32 catches, 253 yards, 2 receiving touchdowns.
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