Cowboys' 6 Biggest Priorities After 2024 Minicamp

2. Get the RB room situated

No team has a worse understanding of the running back position than the Dallas Cowboys.

In 2015, they seemed to understand it as they refused to overpay DeMarco Murray despite him leading the league in rushing in 2014. They were proven correct as Murray was a bust for the Eagles and Darren McFadden rushed for 1,000 yards in 10 starts.

They proved you don't need a star at the position, so naturally, this led to them using the fourth overall pick on a running back to add a star to the position.

Dallas then did the opposite when Elliott demanded a raise and gave him an asinine six-year extension for $95 million. Throw in the two years remaining and they suddenly had Zeke on an eight-year deal at a position that wears players down like none other.

Predictably, Elliott was released in 2023 which was the first chance they had at getting out of the contract. They then paid Tony Pollard more than $10 million on the franchise tag before going with another polar opposite approach this year.

The Cowboys once again seemed to understand running back was the most replaceable position but went way too far. Dallas didn't sign an experienced player with a decent track record (as they did in 2015 with McFadden). Nor do they have a rookie or young prospect as they did in 2015 with Joseph Randle. Instead, they brought back Elliott (who is also still on the books from his last contract), signed Royce Freeman, and drafted — no one.

It's hard to see the plan with Rico Dowdle, Zeke, Freeman, and Deuce Vaughn in the mix. But the Cowboys have to figure this out in a hurry.