The Dallas Cowboys had a better 2025 NFL Draft than most fans expected after a disappointing 2024 season. The new Cowboys’ coaching staff, led by Brian Schottenheimer, made it a point of emphasis to address the trenches, which they did with Tyler Booker and Donovan Ezeiruaku in the first and second rounds.
In the fifth round, the Cowboys finally took a running back, which was needed after they signed veterans Javonte Williams and Miles Sanders to one-year deals.
Fans are excited about the potential of Blue, who is uber talented and fast. The former Texas Longhorn running back ran a 4.38 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine, which is the speed the Cowboys have been lacking in the backfield.
Even though Blue has gotten most of the attention from the fanbase, the Cowboys selected another running back in the seventh round, who can also make a push to win a job on the 53-man roster.
Cowboys' Phil Mafah Being Overlooked Ahead of Training Camp
The other running back I’m speaking of is former Clemson standout Phil Mafah. Mafah will not blow you away with his speed like Blue, but is a downhill, physical running back who runs with power.
The 6-foot, 234-pound running back doesn’t have much wiggle in his game, which hurts him in open space, and he needs to improve in pass pro. However, as a seventh-round pick, Mafah can carve out a role as a short-yardage/goal-line running back.
Over his four-year career at Clemson, Mafah had 2,887 rushing yards and 28 scores on the ground on 561 carries. Mafah stepped into the starting role in 2023 and showed he could be a feature back at the college level, carrying the ball 179 times.
He racked up 965 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns, while mixing in 21 receptions for 103 yards in the passing game. Then last season with the Tigers, Mafah had a career-high 1,165 rushing yards on 216 carries, while scoring eight touchdowns on the ground.
According to Nick Harris of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Mafah was running with the third-team unit along with Blue, while Sanders and Williams worked with the first-team.
The rookie RB might be considered a long shot to make the 53-man roster, but he has the skills to give the vets and maybe even Deuce Vaughn, who is also on thin ice, a run for his money.