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Was this Cowboys veteran the offseason’s biggest loser?

By Steven Mullenax

Nov 26, 2015; Arlington, TX, USA; A view of a Dallas Cowboys helmet before the game between the Dallas Cowboys and the Carolina Panthers on Thanksgiving at AT&T Stadium. The Panthers defeat the Cowboys 33-14. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 26, 2015; Arlington, TX, USA; A view of a Dallas Cowboys helmet before the game between the Dallas Cowboys and the Carolina Panthers on Thanksgiving at AT&T Stadium. The Panthers defeat the Cowboys 33-14. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports /
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After a stellar outing last year, did this Dallas Cowboys veteran end up being the league’s biggest loser this offseason?

After posting an impressive 12-4 season ending record behind the NFL’s leading rusher in running back DeMarco Murray in 2014, the Dallas Cowboys looked poised for a playoff run the following season. But choosing not to overpay the often injured Murray last offseason, the Cowboys lost him to free agency.

In response, the Cowboys signed former Oakland Raider free agent running back Darren McFadden the very next day, to little fanfare. Dallas fans had just lost the league’s leading rusher. In return they got a former fourth overall pick whose disappointing career was marred by injury. At the time, it didn’t seem like equal value.

By years’ end, and despite a mirror opposite 4-12 season ending record, Cowboys fans were singing McFadden’s praises. Despite his horrid injury history, and starting the season in a running back by committee experiment with Joseph Randle and Christine Michael, Run DMC emerged as the team’s lone bright spot in 2015.

Although McFadden started only 10 games, he would still rank as the NFL’s fourth best running back, rushing for 1,089 yards. It was only the second time in his eight-year career that he rushed for over 1,000 yards in a season. Still under contract for another year, McFadden was penciled in as the Cowboys likely starter this upcoming season.

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Then, free agency happened. Dallas signed two-time Pro Bowl running back Alfred Morris, who was a free agent formerly of the Washington Redskins. Cowboys fans envisioned a one-two punch featuring McFadden’s speed and Morris’ power.

Then the draft happened. Despite having both McFadden and Morris on the depth chart, the Cowboys opted to use the fourth overall selection in the first round of the 2016 NFL Draft on Ohio State running back Ezekiel Elliott. With the rookie runner wowing audiences this offseason, McFadden still figured to have a role in the rotation…somewhere.

Then Darren dropped his cell phone. Over Memorial Day weekend, McFadden fractured his right elbow in an attempt to protect his falling cell phone. He reportedly had surgery to repair it last week and could be out at least two months.

If that’s true, I wouldn’t expect to see McFadden participating at all for training camp which starts July 30th. And even if he’s ready in time for the preseason, expect very limited touches due to his age (he’s 29 in August) and injury history.

Now, some are wondering if McFadden should be traded out of the Cowboys backfield. But I believe Dallas has learned the value of possessing quality depth, even at a cost. With one year left on his contract, I’d expect the Cowboys to retain McFadden through the season just in case.

There’s little doubt McFadden had a terrible offseason. He went from being the Cowboys starter, to being back in a running back rotation again, to being sidelined with a broken elbow; all in the matter of four months. McFadden is surely in the conversation as this offseason’s biggest loser…simply based on all that he potentially lost.

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