Cowboys Make Intriguing RB Signing to Start Offseason

The Dallas Cowboys are already addressing their backfield depth with an early offseason running back signing.
Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones walks off the field before the game between the Washington Commanders and the Dallas Cowboys at Northwest Stadium.
Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones walks off the field before the game between the Washington Commanders and the Dallas Cowboys at Northwest Stadium. / Peter Casey-Imagn Images
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It's time for the Dallas Cowboys to put their failed 2024 performance in the past now that their offseason is officially underway.

From deciding what to do with head coach Mike McCarthy to bolstering the defense, Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones has a long next several months ahead of him. While several areas of the roster need improvement, one position that America's Team can't ignore in the coming months is the running back room.

Even though free agency doesn't start until March, that didn't stop the Cowboys from making an RB-related move this week.

Cowboys Sign RB Malik Davis to Futures Contract

The Cowboys signed veteran RB Malik Davis to a futures contract on Thursday, according to NFL Trade Rumors' Nate Bouda. A futures deal gives an NFL franchise the rights to a player — usually one that ended the season on the practice squad — that is typically used to help flesh out offseason and training camp rosters.

Davis, 26, has been with the Cowboys since he went unselected at the 2022 NFL Draft. He's spent the majority of the last two seasons on the team's practice squad, though, leaving time to tell if a bigger opportunity awaits him during the 2025 campaign.

The former Florida Gator has played 15 games for the Cowboys since 2022, however, the majority of those appearances (12) came during his rookie season. Davis has converted 38 carries into 161 rushing yards and a touchdown while also making six catches for another 63 yards.

With Ezekiel Elliott off to Los Angeles and Rico Dowdle becoming a free agent in two months, Davis and Deuce Vaughn are the only RBs currently under contract for the Cowboys. Considering the duo's lack of experience, all signs point to Dallas adding another runner or two during the offseason, whether that's through free agency or the draft.

Regardless of who's leading the Cowboys' backfield in 2025, one thing is certain: it's hard to imagine the situation being any worse than it was this season.

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