Cowboys fans' dream draft running back is already thriving with new team

While the Dallas Cowboys have an embarrassment of riches at the safety position, running back is a completely different story. Despite turning 29 this month and coming off the worst season of his career, Ezekiel Elliott is expected to lead the backfield in touches.

Leading returning rusher Rico Dowdle should play a big role and the latest buzz from training camp indicates Rico Dowdle has looked markedly better than Elliott. It can be argued that Dowdle deserves the starting job.

Even small-scale signing Royce Freeman has impressed in camp, but these are all small victories for Cowboys fans, who would feel much better if the team went out and splurged around $5 million on an accomplished back.

What's even more shocking is that Dallas didn't draft a running back. It seemed inevitable that Texas phenom Jonathon Brooks would end up with the Cowboys, but the Panthers traded up in round two to get him.

That definitely stung the front office, but there were a number of other RB prospects that could have stepped into a prominent role as a rookie. One of them just so happened to be coveted by Cowboys fans and he is already thriving with his new team.

Cowboys fans' RB draft rush Audric Estime already looks like a stud

Estime has been one of the stars of Broncos training camp. One of his carries went viral after he trucked a teammate in team drills. It seems that Estime has already jumped Javonte Williams, a second-round pick in 2021, and veteran Samaje Perine on the depth chart.

“When the draft started, every once in a while there’s a player you’d say, ‘When this thing’s all over with, I’d love to have this player,'" said Broncos head coach Sean Payton. "And, fortunately, we were able to get this player… He’s smart, he’s tough, and I like his size."

Cowboys fans were all aboard the Estime bandwagon leading up to the draft. The Notre Dame product was seen as a perfect Day 3 target if Dallas was unable to draft one of the classes top prospects in rounds two or three.

Incredibly Estime lasted until the fifth round (No. 147 overall). While he went almost 30 picks before the Cowboys' turn at pick No. 174, it is fair to wonder if Dallas would have taken Estime in the fourth round if they had a pick (another downside of the Trey Lance trade). He wasn't a 30 visit, but he met with the team during the combine so there was definitely interest.

Estime's power profile is exactly what the Cowboys need on offense. A whopping 60.9% of Estime's total rushing yards last season came after contact. He ranked 10th in FBS in that category. He was also fifth in the country with 22 runs of 15 or more yards and 3.9 yards after contact per carry.

The 2025 draft class is shaping up to be one of the deepest for running backs in years. Maybe the Cowboys' plan all along was to wait until next year to find their future starter. Until they do, though, fans won't help but harp on the fact that Dallas could have had Estime all too themselves.

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