Here’s why the Cowboys failed to draft a running back in 2015

We now know how and why the Dallas Cowboys failed to draft a running back in the 2015 NFL Draft.

After losing the NFL’s leading rusher, running back DeMarco Murray, to free agency this offseason, the Dallas Cowboys were expected to fill that void in the upcoming NFL Draft. Despite having the most talented and deepest running back class in recent memory to choose from, the Cowboys opted not to draft a single player at, what many believed to be, their biggest area of need going into the event. It was a confusing decision that left many analysts and fans alike scratching their heads.

At the time, the Cowboys claimed the draft simply didn’t fall their way in order to get the running backs they coveted. Now it appears we  have a big piece of the puzzle that proves that statement to be true: The names of the three prospects Dallas wanted in the draft.

"“According to multiple club sources, the team was prepared to take Todd Gurley with the 27th overall pick (which wound up being used on Byron Jones),” wrote NFL Media reporter Albert Breer in an article that appeared on the league’s official site on Friday. “That seemed realistic at the beginning of the process, but it quickly became a pipe dream. Taking that into account, Dallas targeted T.J. Yeldon as a potential second-round pick, and the team would’ve wrestled with taking him over Randy Gregory (whom they were surprised to see available at 60) had he not gone to the Jaguars at No. 36. Dallas also looked hard at drafting Thomas Rawls in the seventh round before trying, in vain, to sign him as a college free agent.”"

The Cowboys scouting of all three players seemed to be spot on, as all of three have found success in the NFL in their rookie seasons. Gurley was taken 10th overall in the draft, and the price tag to move up from 27th overall into the top ten would have been massively too high. Yeldon was expected to be a second to third round selection, but no one expected him to be the third running back off the board at 36th overall. So right off the bat, the Cowboys top two picks were gone before their second round selection at 60. And Yeldon was certainly not worth a first round pick.

Their next target was Central Michigan running back Thomas Rawls, who was expected to be a sixth to seventh round selection. That explains why the Cowboys elected to draft offensive lineman Chaz Green of Florida over the running back position in the third. Even though backs like Florida’s Matt Jones, Michigan State’s Jeremy Langford, and USC’s Buck Allen were still available.

But the fact the Cowboys didn’t select Rawls with one of their three seventh round selections is confusing. Either they were confident  they could sign him as an undrafted free agent and/or, they simply liked Wyoming linebacker Mark Nzeocha, Virgina Tech offensive tackle Laurence Gibson, and Texas tight end Geoff Swaim better. The latter they actually traded their 2016 sixth round pick to grab. While Gibson didn’t even make it past final cuts in September.

So far this season, Gurley has rushed  for 1,023 yards and nine touchdowns in 12 games for the St. Louis Rams. Yeldon has led the Jacksonville Jaguars in rushing with 740 yards and three total scores. Finally, Rawls has been a revelation in Seattle running for 830 rushing yards and five total touchdowns behind starter Marshawn Lynch for the Seahawks.

Next: Cowboys 2016: Five Potential Bargain Free Agents

Again, it’s good to see that the Cowboys scouting department was on point with all three prospects. That bodes well for the 2016 draft. Unfortunately, their front office didn’t have the foresight to bring Rawls to Dallas when they easily could have with one of their wasted seventh round choices.