The Dallas Cowboys' running back room looked as dire as humanly imaginable after the 2025 NFL Draft, but Javonte Williams' emergence as a breakout star has nullified some of that preseason concern. However, that doesn't mean the entirety of Jerry Jones' offseason work was a masterclass.
The 2025 NFL Draft appears to have been a solid windfall for the Cowboys, as they acquired two players in offensive linemen Tyler Booker and pass rusher Donovan Ezeiruaku who should be long-term contributors on this team going forward. However, some of Dallas' Day 3 picks have had mixed results, to say the least.
Fifth-round rookie Jaydon Blue could have forced his way into the rotation on the back of his tremendous physical gifts, but he found himself getting healthy scartches early in the year and getting most of his snaps at times when the score was already locked in.
Unless Blue somehow wins the RB2 job despite coming into 2026 with just about zero momentum going for him, Jones and the rest of the Dallas front office may need to chalk this pick up as a lost cause.
Cowboys may be regretting picking running back Jaydon Blue
Blue hasn't even cracked the 100-yard barrier yet, and his lack snaps idn't due to a lack of NFL-caliber athletic ability. The fact that Malik Davis has received most of the snaps over Blue when Williams has needed a breather or been injured may not be the best indictment of the Texas product.
Even though Williams is going to be a free agent in the coming offseason, it seems like a mortal lock that he will be given some sort of contract from Dallas that will establish him as the starter and relegate Blue to a backup role. Even in offensive coordinator Klayton Adams' system, Blue doesn't profile as a long-term starter.
The Cowboys' picks outside of the first two rounds are looking questionable, as Jay Toia may have performed the best of that bunch. Cornerback Shavon Revel Jr. has had some major rookie struggles, linebacker Shemar James has struggled, and fellow running back Phil Mafah is not in the picture at all.
Blue's preseason hype has not amounted to very much in the NFL, and the recent inability to get on the field puts him closer to a 2026 cut than any sort of role where he gets a good chunk of touches on offense.