Despite signing veterans Javonte Williams and Miles Sanders during the early days of free agency, the Dallas Cowboys always had plans to go looking for a running back in the 2025 NFL Draft.
As such, America's Team worked out several potential candidates leading into late April's festivities in Green Bay, including Damien Martinez, a bruiser-type back who stood out with both Oregon State and the Miami Hurricanes during his three-year collegiate career, ultimately rushing for 3,169 yards and 26 touchdowns between the two programs, while averaging an impressive 6.2 yards per carry.
At 6-foot-1 and 217 pounds, Martinez undoubtedly fit the mold of the powerful back the Cowboys were looking to add. And with him being a native of Lewisville, Texas, the team didn't even have to use one of its top-30 visits on him, as he was invited to the franchise's annual Dallas Day.
But the Cowboys obviously chose to go in a different direction, and Martinez ended up falling to the seventh round before being scooped up by the Seattle Seahawks at No. 223 overall. But that partnership has already come to an end, at least for now, as the 21-year-old was cut on Tuesday and will now hit the waiver wire.
Cowboys should not give in to Damien Martinez temptation after Seahawks release
If no other teams claims him ahead of Wednesday's noon Eastern deadline, one would think the Seahawks could bring him back as a member of the practice squad.
Martinez played decently enough during the preseason but only averaged 3.5 yards per carry, ultimately rushing for 84 yards on 24 carries. He had a nice outing in the Seahawks' middle game against the Kansas City Chiefs, going for 50 yards and a touchdown on 11 carries.
But it obviously wasn't enough. With Seattle set with Kenneth Walker III and Zach Charbonnet in the top two slots at running back, Martinez was simply outplayed by 2024 undrafted free agent George Holani for the RB3 spot and will now wait to see how his future unfolds.
As much as some Dallas fans might want it, given his ties to the area, that future should not be with the Cowboys, who went and got their own bruiser in the seventh round, taking 6-foot-1, 234-pound Phil Mafah at No. 239 overall.
Mafah has quickly become a fan favorite, and there were concerns that the Clemson alum would also be a victim of final roster cuts ahead of Tuesday's deadline. But in what seems to be a little bending of the rules, Mafah has been placed on injured reserve with a shoulder injury, with the plan for him to return during the season.
This could very well be legit, given Mafah had surgery in December to repair a torn labrum in his left shoulder. But as he's looked just fine during the preseason, this seems more like a move to avoid subjecting him to waivers. One would assume Mafah will make his way onto the Cowboys' gameday roster at some point.