It was a given that the Dallas Cowboys would select a running back at some point during the 2025 NFL Draft as no team in the NFL had a worse stable of runners. The Cowboys added Javonte Williams and Miles Sanders in free agency; both are well past their primes and signed one-year prove-it deals to keep their careers alive.
Not many predicted that the Cowboys would wait until Round 5 to select a running back. However, this was one of the deepest running back classes in recent memory, and the Cowboys clearly thought they could find a starting-caliber running back on Day 3 of the NFL Draft.
The Cowboys selected Jaydon Blue in Round 5, the speedster from Texas. And while no one expects him to be a workhorse back as a rookie, the expectation is that he will have a significant role in the offense. Even then, those expectations might be a tad high.
Cowboys fans shouldn't expect too much from Jaydon Blue in 2025
In a recent article by Mike Clay of ESPN, he projected the stat lines of the top-25 running backs from the 2025 NFL Draft.
For Blue, he projected a modest stat line of 446 rushing yards and three touchdowns as a rookie. Here is a snippet of why he believes Blue could have a productive rookie season despite being a fifth-round selection:
"He's a bit on the small size at 196 pounds and has had issues with holding onto the ball. However, the speed is there; he ran a 4.38 in the 40-yard dash. Blue will begin his career behind newly acquired veterans Javonte Williams and Miles Sanders, but neither have played well in recent seasons, so this depth chart is wide open. The lead back role in Dallas is there for the taking."Mike Clay, ESPN
Just 550 total yards (111 receiving yards projected) and just three touchdowns would be a disappointment for some Cowboys fans, as they are hoping Blue can be the best runner in the backfield right away. But that would actually be on the higher end of production based on recent fifth-round running backs over the last decade.
The Cowboys are very hopeful that Blue can become a full-time player in the backfield, but they aren’t going to rush him onto the field either. Tony Pollard had just 86 total carries during his rookie season, and it wasn’t until Year 3 that the Cowboys gave him an extended workload.
Clay’s projections are modest, but they are realistic given the track record of Day 3 running backs. Look for Blue to have a role in the offense in 2025, but don’t expect big numbers from the former Texas star this season.