Is running back ever not a polarizing topic in Dallas? The Ezekiel Elliott era was fun while it lasted, but ever since he declined, the Dallas Cowboys' backfield has sparked endless debate.
Thankfully, Javonte Williams has brought overdue stability to the position. But the workload clearly wore him down in the second half of the season, which intensified calls for a legitimate backup. The hope was that then-rookie Jaydon Blue would step up, but he was largely a non-factor after struggling to pick up the playbook.
By bypassing RBs in free agency and the NFL Draft, the Cowboys are putting a lot of faith in Blue -- as well as veteran Malik Davis and 2025 seventh-round pick Phil Mafah. In a perfect world, Blue seizes the opportunity and wins the job, and the early signs are encouraging.
Nick Harris of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram thinks Dallas would be smart to sign a vet before training camp, but he acknowledged that Blue "has finally earned some trust from the coaching staff this offseason."
That would be huge.
Jaydon Blue may be changing the Dallas Cowboys' mind at the perfect time
In the mailbag article, Harris was asked if he's concerned that the Cowboys did not draft a running back and if he's comfortable with Blue being Williams' backup. Here's his full answer:
"I’m with you here. I think Jaydon Blue has finally earned some trust from the coaching staff this offseason, but they should be concerned about the depth behind Javonte Williams going into camp. I would look to add a veteran, but it doesn’t seem as though they have the same urgency. I asked them multiple times this offseason if they feel good about the room, and the answer was the same. They backed it up by not drafting one, too. We will see!"
Brian Schottenheimer was asked about the running back room during the NFL Owners' Meetings after free agency and dismissed the possibility of adding to the backfield, expressing confidence in the players already on the roster.
It's a risky approach, but perhaps Dallas plans to revisit the position during or after training camp if injuries strike or Blue, Mafah, and Davis fail to impress. If that's the case, Blue won't get a better chance to prove himself.
The 2025 fifth-round pick had a rude awakening in his first year as a pro. Before last year's draft, scouts intimated that he had some growing up to do, and that seemingly proved to be true, as Schottenheimer kept going back to "consistency" when asked about Blue's limited role.
Reading between the lines, the Cowboys likely want more reliability from him throughout the week, from meetings to practice reps to understanding the offense.
Ability has never been Blue’s problem. But there is more to the position than taking handoffs and being able to make defenders miss in the open field. Hopefully, he learned that the hard way and has his head on straight.
The former Texas Longhorn can have a big role in the offense. But it's up to him. Thankfully, Harris' intel suggests things may finally be starting to click.
Add us as a preferred source on Google