The Dallas Cowboys have made it known they plan to address the defensive side of the ball this offseason, giving defensive coordinator Christian Parker more weapons to play with. As great as it's been to see those moves, it goes without saying that the Cowboys' offense — especially the backfield — could use some help, too.
After all, Jaydon Blue left much to be desired in his rookie season. Last year's 149th overall pick struggled to get on the field, leaving Dallas to potentially look for a new RB2 this offseason.
Javonte Williams was locked down for the future, inking a three-year, $24 million extension in February, but the Cowboys could still make some depth additions. ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reported on Friday that the Denver Broncos weren't going to tender running back Jaleel McLaughlin, allowing him to become a free agent.
Even though Williams is the de facto RB1, McLaughlin could be an upgrade behind him, but that would usher out Blue in the process.
Jaleel McLaughlin Should Be a Cowboys Target for RB2
Blue was drafted in the fifth round of the 2024 NFL draft. At the time, fans were excited about the potential of the Texas product. During his junior season with the Longhorns, he took advantage of the increased playing time, logging 730 rushing yards (5.4 yards per carry), 368 receiving yards, and 14 total touchdowns.
Blue was a serious weapon for that offense, but things were different in his rookie season with the Cowboys. During training camp, Blue suffered an ankle injury that forced him to miss several weeks. He returned to deal with another ankle injury against the Atlanta Falcons in the preseason.
Blue was a healthy scratch on multiple instances during the regular season, appearing in five games. In those outings, he had 38 carries for 129 yards (3.4 yards per rush) and one touchdown. He wasn't a factor in the backfield, which opens the door for someone like McLaughlin.
Last season, he fell out of favor with the Broncos coaching staff, who made him a healthy scratch on multiple occasions, in favor of RJ Harvey, J.K. Dobbins, and Tyler Badie. Yet, whenever he has been given a chance in his NFL career, McLaughlin made plays.
In 41 games (nine starts), McLaughlin has racked up 226 attempts for 1,093 rushing yards (4.8 yards per carry) with three rushing scores. He's also reeled in 59 balls (69 targets) with 263 yards and another four touchdowns, displaying he's a sound pass catcher coming out of the backfield.
McLaughlin has solid speed and vision to make the most of what's created in front of him by the offensive line. He isn't going to be an expensive player either, likely getting a deal in the range of a $1.5 million to $3 million average annual value. It would be a low-cost addition but would give them an upgrade over Blue.
Since the Cowboys already paid Williams, they may not want to put more money into the position and could allow Blue the chance to grow in 2026. While that's logical, the idea of adding McLaughlin is something the front office in Dallas should still consider.