If you thought the running back discourse surrounding the Dallas Cowboys last offseason was exhausting, it's going to be more of the same this year.
It's become clear that Dallas has de-emphasized the running back position, so they stand to lose breakout star Rico Dowdle in free agency. Dowdle could fetch a handsome contract on the open market after he ran for 1,079 yards and finished seventh among RBs in rushing success rate.
All signs point to the Cowboys drafting a running back this year after they shockingly bypassed the position last April. It is one of the deepest RB classes in recent memory. So much so that starting-caliber prospects could be found as late as day three.
Despite the wealth of backs, the Cowboys continue to be linked to Ashton Jeanty, who rushed for 2,601 yards and 29 touchdowns in his final season at Boise State, with the No. 12 overall pick.
Jeanty is projected to be an instant star in the NFL, so surely legendary running back Emmitt Smith wants his former team to select the former Bronco, right? Not even close.
Cowboys legend Emmitt Smith's comments on Ashton Jeanty don't make sense
"If he comes to the Cowboys right now he’s going to get beat up," Smith told Maggie Gray and Andrew Perloff on Radio Row." I don’t think we’re ready. We don’t have the right mindset. We don’t have the right commitments.”
“I think we’re drafting... we’re drafting exciting pieces... exciting pieces that get fans all... oh we got Ashton Jeanty, oh we are going to be able to run the ball.”
“If he comes to the Cowboys… he’s going to get beat up”
— Maggie and Perloff (@MaggieandPerl) February 6, 2025
Pro Football Hall of Famer Emmitt Smith says the Cowboys SHOULD NOT draft Boise State RB Asthon Jeanty pic.twitter.com/KFu9dZAOnC
Smith isn't off-base in saying Dallas shouldn't draft Jeanty. It's his argument that is difficult to understand.
While the value of RBs undoubtedly improved this past season and Jeanty might be the best player on the board at No. 12 overall, the Cowboys have far too many roster holes to spend a first-round pick on a non-premium position.
Wide receiver, offensive tackle, edge rusher and defensive tackle are all huge question marks. Whether it's Omarion Hampton, Kaleb Johnson, TreVeyon Henderson, Devin Neal, R.J. Harvey, or Ollie Gordon II, Dallas can get a dynamic rusher in the final six rounds.
Smith, though, argued that the Cowboys aren't committed to running the ball enough to draft Jeanty in round one when that is exactly what Brian Schottenheimer has preached since he was hired as head coach.
Schottenheimer wants to be a run-first team to set up play-action. The team hired run game whizz Klayton Adams as offensive coordinator to buoy those efforts. New running backs Derrick Foster is also an accomplished RBs coach in the league. All signs point to Dallas being a run-oriented offense.
If Smith went in depth about the roster's deficiencies and that the offensive line isn't established enough yet to draft Jeanty 12th overall, we'd have no qualms. Then again, Dowdle was efficient behind the same line even after Dak Prescott went down.
See the problem with Smith's argument? While we get the apprehension of drafting Jeanty in round one, Smith's premise does not support Schottenheimer's vision for the offense nor the team's latest moves.