The Dallas Cowboys quelled any concerns about their running back room when they gave Javonte Williams a three-year, $24 million extension before the new league year.
While Williams had an excellent 2025 season, no one seized the RB2 role. Miles Sanders won the job in training camp, but a knee injury wiped out his season after four games.
That opened the door for fifth-round pick Jaydon Blue, but he failed to capitalize, eventually losing touches to former undrafted free agent Malik Davis and being a healthy scratch for much of his rookie year.
As such, there's been a lot of chatter about Dallas signing a vet to play behind Williams, or potentially drafting a rookie on Day 3. However, in speaking to reporters at the NFL's Owner's Meetings, Brian Schottenheimer said he doesn't envision adding to the RB room (h/t Jon Machota, The Athletic).
"That should be a very competitive position, but we gotta get those young guys going."
Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer doesn't feel like they need to add another young running back into the mix. He spoke highly of Jaydon Blue, Phil Mafah and Malik Davis. "That should be a very competitive position, but we gotta get those young guys going."
— Jon Machota (@jonmachota) March 30, 2026
The Dallas Cowboys sound like they're ready to give Jaydon Blue another shot
Per Machota, Schotteneheimer spoke highly of Blue, Davis, and 2025 seventh-round pick Phil Mafah, who was on injured reserve for most of last season with a shoulder injury.
In theory, two Day 3 picks and a fourth-year vet in Davis who logged 52 carries a season ago should be enough firepower behind Williams. Even with acknowledging Williams' splendid play, though, it's one of the thinner RB rooms in the league.
The front office would have been justified in signing another vet in free agency. And depending on how the board falls, Dallas could spend one of its five Day 3 picks on a running back.
Regardless, Schottenheimer's revelation is a big development for Blue, who should be thanking his lucky stars that he only has to fend off Davis and Mafah.
Blue generated plenty of buzz in training camp last summer, but couldn’t carry it into the regular season. The former Texas Longhorn was active for just five games and didn’t take advantage after Sanders’ knee injury, with Schottenheimer repeatedly citing a lack of “consistency.”
Schottenheimer never explained why Blue was in the doghouse, but fans and reporters believed it stemmed from his grasp of the playbook, or lack thereof, especially on passing downs and blocking assignments.
While Blue doesn’t have the size to handle 20 carries per game, his speed, lateral agility, and home-run ability make him an ideal complementary back.
The hope is that his rookie year served as a wake-up call, and he will hit the ground running in year two under Schottenheimer. After all, he only turned 22 in January, and not every player enters the NFL with maturity beyond their years.
Blue is fortunate that Dallas hasn’t given up on him. The opportunity is still there, and it’s up to him to make something of it.