Could Jamaal Charles end up with the Dallas Cowboys?

The Dallas Cowboys have one of the best running backs in the NFL with second-year pro and defending NFL rushing champion, Ezekiel Elliott. But contrary to popular belief, behind Elliott, the Cowboys running game faces a severe falloff in talent.

Darren McFadden provides a strong veteran presence that’s both reliable in relief and in conjunction. He’s a strong pass protector and receiver out of the backfield. The problem is he’s not a natural zone runner and has been exposed when asked to carry the load fulltime.

Alfred Morris is a natural zone runner and if Zeke falls to injury, he’d be the optimal solution at starting running back. The problem with him is he’s not good in the committee approach and because of that, he’s a likely camp casualty.

The Cowboys don’t currently have a clear cut No 3 back (thanks to the boneheaded move of cutting Darius Jackson)

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And if something were to happen to Zeke, the Cowboys would probably be left with McFadden and a couple fullbacks carrying the load. Not optimal.

While normally you’d want your No. 3 back to be young, change-of-pace, and/or a special teams weapon, the Cowboys don’t seem to have anyone obvious suitable for that role. Sure Jahad Thomas is here. But we know very little about him and the undrafted free agent is still a long-shot to make the 53. Adding a proven star capable of being a versatile weapon out of the backfield and a threat to take it the distance from anywhere, may be the best bet.

Jamaal Charles could fit that bill.

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There is one glaring problem…he plays for the Denver Broncos.

But looking into the Denver situation more closely you’ll see Charles is far from a sure thing given the depth at the position. Devontae Booker and C.J. Anderson are both firmly in place above him on the depth chart making the battle for a roster spot between Charles and the young firecracker, De’Angelo Henderson.

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Financially, the Broncos aren’t committed to Charles thus making him a very cuttable veteran. MSN Sports recently named Charles as the one of eight NFL veterans who may be cut and Denver based sports sites are likewise calling him a possible cut even with his recent good news regarding his recovery.

The Gamble

Jamaal Charles is far from a sure thing. He’s 30-years old coming off another ACL surgery.

Reports are saying Charles is progressing ahead of schedule and he expects to compete in camp. If he does miss the 53-mn cut in Denver, it would seem logical the Cowboys consider him but only after Week 1 since before Week 1 would guarantee his contract.

Many pieces would have to fall into place but given the numbers game Charles has to win in Denver and the lack-of-depth the Cowboys will likely have once Alfred Morris is cut, this could be a match made in heaven for one season.

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The optimal and more likely solution to the No 3 back in Dallas is making an undrafted free agent work that the Cowboys could groom and use on special teams. But hey, this is the time of year we have fun with our imagination and Jamaal Charles to the Dallas Cowboys is pretty darn fun to think about.