When it comes to the 2025 NFL Draft, many Dallas Cowboys fans are clamoring for Jerry Jones to use the 12th overall pick to select Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty.
And for various reasons, the selection would make sense.
For starters, the Heisman Trophy runner-up already knows what it's like to have a star on his helmet, as he was a standout star at Lone Star High School in Frisco, Texas, which is located roughly eight miles from Cowboys headquarters.
So, there's that obvious local connection that fans always seem to love. But even more so, fans love talent. And Jeanty unquestionably has that in droves.
Coming off an All-American season in 2023, one in which he rushed for 1,347 yards and 14 touchdowns while adding another 569 yards and five scores as a receiver, he was otherworldly in 2024.
In 14 games for Boise State this past season, Jeanty rushed for a ridiculous 2,601 yards, falling just 28 yards shy of breaking Barry Sanders' all-time FBS single-season record. His 29 rushing touchdowns were also tied for the seventh-most in a single campaign. While not quite as prolific as a receiver, he still added 138 yards and a score on 23 receptions.
So, it's easy to understand why fans of America's Team would want to see him in a Cowboys uniform, especially since there's no guarantee that Dallas will be able to bring back unrestricted free agent Rico Dowdle, who may have priced himself out of town with his late-season surge.
However, Jeanty and those wanting him to come home may not want to get their hopes up, as history suggests the chances of this happening aren't great.
Ashton Jeanty would be just the fifth skill position player the Cowboys have drafted in the first round since 1991
In each of Jerry Jones' first three seasons as the owner/general manager of the Dallas Cowboys, he used a first-round draft pick to secure a skill position player, taking quarterback Troy Aikman in 1989 (No. 1 overall), running back Emmitt Smith in 1990 (No. 17 overall), and wide receiver Alvin Harper in 1991 (No. 12 overall).
Since then, however, the Cowboys have only done so on four occasions, selecting running back Felix Jones in 2008 (No. 22 overall), wideout Dez Bryant in 2010 (No. 24 overall), running back Ezekiel Elliott in 2016 (No. 4 overall), and wideout CeeDee Lamb (No. 17 overall) in 2020.
READ MORE: 3 running backs (not named Ashton Jeanty) Cowboys must target in 2025 NFL Draft
Throw in the fact that Dallas has plenty of other holes to fill, and the chances of Jeanty joining the Cowboys dips even further, as Jones may address those needs first. And with such a deep running back class, that may not be the worst idea in the world, even if the alternative options aren't quite as strong.
However, if the Cowboys can fix some of their roster issues during free agency — and that's a big if, given Jones' reluctance to spend money these days — perhaps Jeanty gets the call. New head coach Brian Schottenheimer certainly loves a good running back, so that plays in Jeanty's favor as well.
So, we'll just have to wait and see how all of this plays out. Such is the entertainment that always comes with a Dallas Cowboys offseason.