Dallas Cowboys’ Draft, Free Agency Options at RB in 2016

The Dallas Cowboys have several needs heading into the 2016 NFL Draft and free agency period with at least three of those ahead of running back on the priority list. However, it can be argued there’s a hole in Dallas’ backfield, at least when discussing the 2016 squad as potential Super Bowl contenders. So for the Cowboys’ ground game to return to its dominant form of 2014, adding a new runner would definitely be beneficial.

Sign Lamar Miller in Free Agency

Probably the most popular free agent option among the fan base is Miller, who is only 25 and was heavily underutilized in Miami. He’s averaged 4.6 yards per carry through four years with the Dolphins and has only tallied 20 totes in two games as a pro. His fresh legs and hunger for a larger workload make him an ideal fit in Dallas and he’s not garnering a ton of attention as a free agent, and that’s aside from the dwindling value of running backs on the open market. Miller would be a nice complement to Darren McFadden and could easily be the No. 1 back in the committee by Week 6.

Draft Ezekiel Elliott at No. 4

Although this could easily end up being a mistake, the Cowboys could get their running back issue off the table right away in the draft by taking the well-rounded back out of Ohio State within the top five picks. There is no flaw in Ezekiel Elliott’s game, but there were times he showed less-than-desirable maturity during his days as a Buckeye. Of course, the Cowboys have never shied away from a talented player with baggage, so Elliott might follow in Dez Bryant’s steps in that regard and become a superstar in Dallas. Then again, he might turn out to be another top-10 draft bust like Morris Claiborne. Dallas should definitely check Elliott’s Wonderlic score before pulling the trigger.

Stick With the Current Stable

Even with the horrific passing game during Tony Romo’s absence, the Cowboys still boasted the league’s ninth-best rushing attack in 2015. Even better, they ranked fifth in yards-per-carry with 4.6 while rushing over 25 times per game on average. A vast majority of that was McFadden, who had by far his best season as a pro since 2010.

Once Robert Turbin was signed, he also was a solid second option, averaging right at four yards per carry in limited work through seven games with the Cowboys. And it’s easy to forget about Lance Dunbar, who was among the NFL leaders in receptions when he was lost for the season to a torn ACL. His versatility was a huge element of Dallas’ offense, which would have looked a lot different had he, Bryant and Romo never gone down.

With Romo and Bryant back to keep defenses from stacking the box, McFadden, Turbin and Dunbar could thrive behind the best o-line in football, assuming the latter two would re-sign at reasonable prices.

Draft Devontae Booker in Second Round

Had he played at a big-name school like Ohio State, Booker would be right up there at the top of the draft board next to Elliott. He is the most complete back in the draft and will be an absolute stud in the NFL, and a heck of a bargain in the second round or later. If this were 12 years ago, he’d be a top-10 pick. Whichever team is wise enough to not let the diving running back market cloud its vision will be happily rewarded for at least the next four years and that team could be Dallas. With a defensive playmaker in the fold at No. 4, the Cowboys could do a lot worse than taking Booker at No. 34.

Sign Matt Forte in Free Agency

The wild card in all of this is Forte, who has hit the running back death mark age of 30, but still appears to have a couple of good seasons left in the tank, especially if used in a backfield committee like Dallas’ and o-line like the one the Cowboys boast. His presence could essentially eliminate the Dunbar factor of the offense mentioned earlier, but he could have a vintage season or two like the one McFadden experienced in 2015. That, coupled with the assumed return of an elite passing game behind Romo and Bryant, could be enough to make the Cowboys that physical bully of a team that bulldozes its way all the way through the playoffs.