15 best free agent signings in Dallas Cowboys history
By Randy Gurzi
11. Darren McFadden, RB, 2015
Several years before Dallas foolishly gave into Ezekiel Elliott’s demand for a massive contract, the Cowboys showed the league why you don’t pay a running back. In 2014, DeMarco Murray had a career year, running for 1,845 yards and 13 touchdowns.
He was the league’s No. 1 rusher that season, then hit free agency. Dallas elected not to overpay and he signed with the Philadelphia Eagles on a five-year, $42 million deal. Murray lasted just one season with Philly and was out of the league three years after leaving Dallas.
As for the Cowboys, they tried to turn the ball over to Joseph Randle, who was more interested in stealing underwear than being a lead back in the NFL. The good news was they protected themselves by signing Darren McFadden to a two-year deal worth just under $6 million.
Darren McFadden taking first team reps at #Cowboys RB with Joe Randle out of practice (oblique). @NBCDFW pic.twitter.com/F4wVTIVhJP
— Pat Doney (@PatDoneyNBC5) August 21, 2015
When Randle was waived due to his continued off-field issues, McFadden took the reins. In just 10 starts, he recorded 1,089 yards while averaging 4.6 per carry. He looked like a much younger version of himself behind that powerful offensive line, but the Cowboys wanted more.
In the following draft, they took Elliott fourth overall, and McFadden became an afterthought. He had just 25 more carries in four appearances in his final two seasons in the league. It would have been interesting to see if he could have continued his success from 2015 but it was still a brilliant signing.