Dallas Cowboys 7-Round 2023 Mock Draft 3.0
By Cassidy Cook
Dallas Cowboys – Round 5 – Chris Rodriguez Jr. – Running Back – Kentucky
Height: 6'0" Weight: 217lbs. Forty: 4.52 Wingspan: 77.63"
The Cowboys are no strangers to the state of Kentucky as they have taken three players from the Bluegrass state since 2018 (Mike White, Quinton Bohanna, Kelvin Joseph). Christopher Rodriguez is a running back that’s built more like a linebacker. With the loss of Ezekiel Elliott, America’s Team is in search of a running back who can muscle out the dirty yards.
Chris Rodriguez’s game is formulated on physicality and attitude while having a nose for the endzone with 32 touchdowns in his career which is good for 3rd most in school history. Defenders will not be able to arm tackle him as Rodriguez is tough to bring down at 6 feet and weighing 217 yards. During his 2022 season, 669 of his 904 yards came after contact while posting 5.16 yards per carry and 6.2 throughout his college career. Expect Rodriguez to be a bruiser at the next level in a backfield-by-committee approach.
Where he fits in Dallas: The answer is simple for this one, Rodriguez would take Elliott’s role from last year. A healthy Tony Pollard would be the dynamic, explosive player while Rodriguez would be the physical, short-yardage, and goal-line back. He could carve out a bigger role if he were to develop into a more functional pass-catching RB.