The Dallas Cowboys' running back competition has heated up since the pads came on.
The latest buzz suggests that Miles Sanders has pulled ahead of Javonte Williams for the lead role, and fifth-round pick Jaydon Blue has come on strong over the last few days. The coaching staff seems thrilled to have Hunter Luepke's versatility in the mix, and Brian Schottenheimer praised seventh-round pick Phil Mafah after the first padded practice.
While the group has impressed, it remains one of the weakest in the NFL from a talent standpoint. It would behoove the front office to keep an eye out for potential upgrades. What they should not do is give vet Zack Moss a look after he was released by the Bengals.
Former Cowboys RB target Zack Moss is back on the free agent market
The Cowboys made a run at Moss last offseason. They had just lost rushing leader Tony Pollard, who signed with the Titans. At the time, Saquon Barkley, Josh Jacobs, Austin Ekeler and Devin Singletary were all off the board.
Moss eventually agreed to terms with the Bengals, but Dallas could've had him. It was later revealed that Moss' contract demands were too steep. He signed a palatable two-year, $8 million deal with Cincinnati, including $4.525 million guaranteed for the 2024 season.
That made it clear the front office had done a 180 on its value of running backs. Sure enough, they signed a washed up Ezekiel Elliott immediately following the NFL Draft. That turned out to be a disaster, as Elliott was one of the least efficient RBs in the league. It wasn't until the halfway point of the season that the Cowboys turned to Rico Dowdle as their lead back.
While Moss would have been a clever pickup last year, the front office should pass this time around. A neck injury limited him to eight games last year. He signed a one-year, $1.7 million restructured contract with the Bengals this offseason that included a $375,000 signing bonus.
Moss' release freed up $1.25 million, but left behind $1.875 million in dead cap. That Cincinnati moved on despite technically "losing" the transaction should tell the Cowboys all they need to know. It is clear the Bengals are content with Samaje Perine and rookie Tahj Brooks operating as the backups behind second-year stud Chase Brown.
Jerry Jones should steer clear.