Rico Dowdle‘s departure in free agency will leave the Cowboys without their leading rusher from 2024 next season. A number of moves have been made this spring which were aimed at improving the team’s ground game, though. 
In March, Dallas made it clear Dowdle would not be retained when Javonte Williams and Miles Sanders were signed in short order. Dowdle wound up taking a one-year, $2.75MM pact with the Panthers on the open market. Rather than matching that commitment, the Cowboys elected to rely on outside additions in the backfield.
Those veteran moves meant the team was not forced turn to the draft for 2025 contributors, but a pair of rookies were acquired nonetheless. Fifth-rounder Jaydon Blue and seventh-rounder Phil Mafah will look to compete for a depth role this year while offering contributions in the backfield in the future. With those four new running backs in the fold, ESPN’s Dan Graziano unsurprisingly reports Dallas is unlikely to be active at the position for the rest of offseason.
Williams enjoyed a strong rookie campaign, notching 1,219 scrimmage yards while operating in a backfield timeshare. The former second-rounder suffered an ACL tear early in his second season, however, and he has not been able to regain his pre-injury efficiency since then. With 158 receptions to his name, Williams could at least offer value in the passing game even if his yards per carry average remains underwhelming on his new team.
Sanders’ fourth and final year with the Eagles saw him set new career highs across the board and collect a Pro Bowl nod. Expectations were high when the 28-year-old inked a long-term Panthers deal, but he was unable to deliver on them in 2023 or ’24. It came as no surprise when he was released earlier this offseason. Just like Williams, Sanders took a one-year pact to join the Cowboys, and his value for next spring will be dictated by his ability to rebound from his poor Carolina stint.
Currently holding nearly $32MM in cap space, Dallas could certainly afford another free agent signing (with Nick Chubb and J.K. Dobbins among the options still on the market) or a trade acquisition at the RB spot. Training camp will see the new additions join returnee Deuce Vaughn in training camp, however, and that group can be expected to remain intact until roster cuts.
I think Dobbins and Chubb will get signed after June 1st. Dobbins for sure after the way he completely balled out this year.
Anyway, Dallas really doesn’t need to add more backs and is smart to see what they have in these guys first. There are impact backs available via free agency or trade or the draft every year, and Miles and Javonte are both on one year prove it deals.
I think Miles has a much better chance to prove himself and show that Carolina was just a bad fit given that Javonte is still trying to get to 100% from that ACL tear but both were smart gambles similar to Dowdle.
Adding two backs in the later rounds was also smart given their more pressing needs that had to be addressed earlier in the draft. It’s less of a commitment if the players don’t turn out to be good enough to stick while still giving yourself a chance to find a useful back in one or both of them. They did a good job getting two very different backs with those picks, too.