Cowboys add another lackluster free agent signing with new RB

If you ask the majority of Dallas Cowboys fans, analysts, and reporters, the way the front office has handled this offseason has been nothing short of confusing, at best. In reality, it’s been frustrating. Losing out on star players to contract details. Staying almost entirely in-house, giving out frugal, short-term deals. Being the last team to sign any external free agents out of all 32 teams in the NFL. Having the two players they externally signed be borderline depth signs.

Now, the confusion continues. On Friday, the Cowboys announced they are signing former Chicago Bears running back Ryan Nall to a one-year contract. The first things that come to mind are who and why? Allegedly, Nall worked out for Dallas last Friday. The team’s official website is calling him a fullback and deeming him a “core special teams player who can also provide depth in the backfield.”

The 26-year-old was a restricted free agent with the Bears but did not receive an offer, making him an unrestricted free agent. Yet, that somehow meant excitement and must have him for Dallas. Nall was an undrafted player out of Oregon State in 2019 and has started in zero games in his three years in Chicago. He has six career carries for 12 yards and nine total receptions for 71 yards. Nall has had one career touchdown and it was in 2020.

Dallas Cowboys sign yet another depth player by adding former Chicago Bears running back Ryan Nall

If this is what Stephen Jones meant by still having activity in free agency, we’d rather he didn’t say it. Yet another snooze signing in the books. The 6-2, 240-pound running back clearly never found his place in Chicago, which makes us wonder where on Earth his place will be behind Ezekiel Elliott and Tony Pollard. The likelihood is he will be spending a lot of time with special teams coach John Fassel.

At this point, the Cowboys are running out of time to sign actual solidified starting players. Everything they’ve done so far, minus re-signing Michael Gallup and tagging Dalton Schultz, have essentially been depth moves. Meanwhile, teams around the NFL are out there making blockbuster signings and stacking their rosters to prepare for 2022.

Yes, the draft is still ahead, but with so few positional needs addressed, this front office simply can’t expect to fix their roster with solely collegiate talent. With only one first-round pick, the chances of getting nine starting-caliber players (they have nine total picks) is highly unlikely. The Joneses continue to make confusing, bizarre, and unexciting decisions this offseason. It will not only be interesting to see what they plan to do with Nall, but it will also be interesting to see how this roster ends up as a whole when all is said and done.