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The internet nearly broke with Adrian Peterson-to-the-Cowboys rumors when Jerry Jones said he’d consider trading a future first-round pick “if the right situation came along.” In no way does that mean Jones or the Dallas Cowboys will pull the trigger on a move like that, but it brought plenty of speculation to people’s minds.
On the surface, it would seem like a good move for the Cowboys to bring in a star such as Peterson, but dealing a future first-round pick for an aging running back is never a good idea in my book. Peterson is 30 years old and coming off a year in which he played just one game, but no one’s doubting his ability to hit the ground running at full speed. It’s the idea of trading a younger player for a player at a position with a short shelf life that makes it a bad move.
Yes, Tony Romo isn’t getting any younger, and yes, Peterson would likely thrive behind Dallas’ offensive line, but we still haven’t seen what the guys on the roster can do, either. Joseph Randle averaged 6.7 yards per carry in 2014 and showed promise at the position, and Darren McFadden has never run behind a line like the one in Dallas.
Not to mention the crop of running backs in the 2016 draft class looks strong, headlined by Ezekiel Elliott and Derrick Henry. Trading a first-round pick in 2016 would likely give the Cowboys no shot at either of these two backs, both of whom show huge upside.
If I’m Jerry Jones and the Cowboys front office, I’m banking on Randle, McFadden or a guy already on the roster to have a big year. If there’s no sign of life from the running game by midseason, then I’d be less reluctant to deal a future pick for a back. But I’d like to see what’s already on the roster before I deal away the future.
The Cowboys clearly have faith in their current backs when they passed on the position several times in this year’s draft, so dealing a pick in 2016 would seem contradictory. There’s not a team in the NFL that wouldn’t love to have Peterson in the backfield, but I’d bet not many would trade a first rounder to make it happen. The Cowboys should hold true and let the line carry the offense.
