The Dallas Cowboys really could use another running back.
Does anyone actually believe Mike McCarthy and company are content rolling with Ronald Jones as Tony Pollard's backup? This team has a knack for signing veterans at their price before or during training camp, and Jones was guaranteed just $300,000 on his contract, making him a prime cut candidate.
If Jones was cut, the Cowboys would have two former undrafted free agents in Malik Davis and Rico Dowdle behind Pollard, as well as 2023 sixth-round pick Deuce Vaughn, who, while exciting, doesn't project to get many (if any) touches between the tackles.
Dalvin Cook has been mentioned as a potential Cowboys target if (when) the Vikings ultimately move on. While Cook is still a premium-level back and would give Dallas the best backfield in the NFL, he'd either cost draft picks or a decent-sized salary, or both.
With that in mind, here are three cheaper Dalvin Cook alternatives the Cowboys should target to upgrade their backfield.
3. Kenyan Drake
With J.K. Dobbins struggling to stay on the field, Drake surprisingly became the workhorse of Baltimore's backfield last season. When the dust settled, Drake led the Ravens with 109 carries and posted 483 yards, equating to a respectable 4.4 yards per attempt.
Now 29 years old, Drake is likely the odd man out in Baltimore. The team is hoping for Dobbins to become the lead guy. When healthy, the 2020 second-round pick has looked the part of a high-level running back. He averaged 5.7 yards per carry last year on 92 carries and boasts an insane 5.9 YPC for his career.
Behind Dobbins, the Ravens have Gus Edwards and Justice Hill, both of whom rushed for more than five yards per carry.
Though Drake (presumably) won't return to Baltimore, he's been a serviceable running back throughout his career. At 6-foot-1 and 210 pounds, he fits the bruiser profile the Cowboys need behind Tony Pollard and he's three years removed from logging 955 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns with the Cardinals.
Drake wouldn't be out first choice, but he'd give Dallas needed physicality and experience in what is undeniably a thin backfield.
2. Leonard Fournette
If the Cowboys strictly want a power back, Fournette is their guy. In fairness to Fournette, he's capable of catching passes out of the backfield -- he caught 142 passes the last two seasons with the Buccaneers and saw 100 targets (!) in his final season with the Jaguars in 2019.
The Cowboys will take all the pass-catching RBs they can get, but Fournette's punishing rushing style is the greater need. He admittedly has averaged more than 4.0 yards per attempt just twice in his career, but he's had efficient seasons behind strong lines and in good offenses.
At 6-foot and 228 pounds, Fournette is the perfect complement to Pollard, who clearly is more comfortable hitting the edge than running between the tackles. He also has a propensity for showing up in the playoffs. He got the nickname "Playoff Lenny" because of his play during the Bucs Super Bowl run in 2020.
Fournette might not move the needle for some fans, but we'd argue he'd fill the Ezekiel Elliott role better than any free agent running back.
1. Kareem Hunt
Unfortunately, the Cowboys have showed they aren't willing to look past off-field troubles when deciding whether to sign a player.
They famously signed the oft-suspended Aldon Smith with the hope of rescuing his career. Even more egregious was their decision to sign Greg Hardy, who at the time faced a suspension over allegations of throwing his then-girlfriend on a bed of semiautomatic firearms, choking and threatening to kill her, among other despicable acts.
Back in 2018, video showed Hunt shoving and kicking a woman in a Cleveland elevator. A budding star with the Chiefs, Hunt was eventually cut by Kansas City and suspended by the NFL before he signed with the Browns in 2019.
Speaking strictly from a football lens, Hunt would be a great get for Dallas. He showed the last three seasons playing behind Nick Chubb in Cleveland that he can produce as a secondary runner. His role as both a runner and receiver diminished last season, but there's still a quality back in there and he'd likely get more touches behind Pollard than as Chubb's No. 2.
Hunt has rushed for 4.5 yards per carry in his career and is comfortable catching passes out of the backfield and as a receiver out wide. He'd bring more power, explosion and versatility to the Cowboys offense, and that's really all they need.