Cowboys Predicted to Add ‘Future Star’ to Replace Tony Pollard
The Dallas Cowboys have made a name for themselves by being completely idle during the first few days of the NFL offseason. They let Tony Pollard, their starting running back, sign a free agent contract with the Titans, and they signed no one to take his position. Josh Jacobs joined Green Bay, Derrick Henry, a Dallas native, joined the Ravens, and Saquon Barkley joined the opposing Eagles.
Rico Dowdle, a fourth-year player with 96 carries and 385 yards rushing on his career ledger, is the Cowboys’ current lead back.
The fact that almost every respectable running back free agency is now unsigned is noteworthy for the Cowboys. They could try their hand at Clyde Edwards-Helaire or J.K. Dobbins, or could even, after just one season with the Patriots, (gasp!) bring back Ezekiel Elliott. However, it’s quite likely that the Cowboys will select Dowdle and use a draft pick to fix the running back position.
Additionally, ESPN highlighted a player who the Cowboys have undoubtedly seen: Jonathan Brooks, a running back from Texas who finished the previous season with 1,179 yards and 10 touchdowns in 11 games before tearing his ACL in November.
Jonathan Brooks by the Cowboys at No. 56?
Although there isn’t anticipated to be a rush on running backs in the first round of this year’s draft, the Cowboys have positioned themselves as a team that will need to make sure They are given one. In the mock draft by Bleacher Report, the Cowboys choose Brooks with the 56th overall choice.
The Cowboys should use their second-round pick on either Trey Benson or Brooks, according to ESPN’s Jordan Reid.
Reid wrote: “We could see a run at the position in the middle-to-late parts of Day 2, but the 2023 group lacks a top-tier prospect.”
“I believe the Cowboys, who haven’t added a back since Pollard left in free agency, could be a good place to start for a run like that with a No. 56 pick. Trey Benson of Florida State has excellent vision, breakaway speed, tackle-breaking ability, and pass-catching skills. Jonathan Brooks of Texas, who just had an ACL tear, is a smooth runner with excellent contact balance. My top two RBs are those two, and might be late-round selections in Round 2 and rookie RB1s.
“He Appears to Be a Future NFL Star”
The Cowboys turning to a rookie RB1 for the upcoming season would be a dramatic turn of events. The team had Pollard as a counterpunch and Elliott, a future Hall of Famer, around this time last year. Elliott was released since they had too many running backs on the field.
Now that Pollard and Elliott are gone, the Cowboys are starting a young running back in Elliott’s place. Although Brooks is risky—especially given his injury—he has left a lasting impression in his brief stint as the Longhorns’ starting quarterback.
After two years, according to Pro Football Focus’ assessment of Brooks as a draft prospect, sitting on the bench,Even as a redshirt sophomore, he already had the makings of an NFL player, so it seemed like the wait was worthwhile.
“He has an explosive first step and can cut, change direction, and avoid tacklers very quickly, even though his footwork isn’t quite as good as (Bijan) Robinson’s.” Although he lacks subtlety as a route runner, he has outstanding hands and has demonstrated the ability to cause missed tackles in his receiver role. His lone season as a starter in 2023 was cut short by an ACL tear, which is the one obvious negative on his scouting report.
