Criticized RB signing is making Cowboys fans eat crow in training camp

The Dallas Cowboys rarely make a signing that fans want. In light of Sam Williams' devastating season-ending knee injury, they signed defensive ends Al-Quadin Muhammad and Shaka Toney over fan darling Carl Lawson.

Lawson is coming off a back injury that limited him to six games last season so it's possible the Cowboys were discouraged by his medicals. Regardless, this was just the latest example of the front office zigging when the fan base as a collective wanted it to zag.

How Dallas has handled the running back position is perhaps the greatest example. While fans are thrilled the team is no longer doling out big money to RBs, they are also disappointed that a bigger name wasn't brought in, whether it be through the draft or free agency.

The Cowboys brought back Rico Dowdle and signed Ezekiel Elliott to essentially the vet minimum after his one-year stint in New England. While Dowdle has looked like the best back in training camp, a forgotten and criticized signing from early in the offseason is making fans eat crow in Oxnard.

Cowboys RB Royce Freeman receives glowing reviews from training camp

Both executive vice president Stephen Jones and head coach Mike McCarthy raved about Freeman's performance in camp thus far. Initially viewed as a depth signing for extra competition in camp, Freeman is seemingly on his way toward making the 53-man roster.

"We were just talking about it last night at the scout dinner, ‘What in the hell was he doing sitting around out there?’" said Jones, via The Athletic. "An interesting guy to just have been sitting there. He’s a great 2-3 combination in terms of what he can do as a backup. He’s a big, thick guy. And he’s a hell of a special teams player as well."

Jones added that Freeman will be a "great complement" to Elliott. Most Cowboys fans take what the Joneses say with a grain of salt, but McCarthy is a straight-shooter. He always give the media authentic and well-thought-out answers.

"He (Freeman) does everything well… He’s got very good hands," said McCarthy. "Has a very high understanding of the game and, also, he has a chance to be one of our primary players on special teams. So, he’s a really good fit for us."

The special teams praise is extremely notable. If a depth piece is trusted to contribute on special teams, that could be the difference in them making the team or getting cut. The fact Freeman has impressed as a rusher, receiver and on special teams gives him a strong chance of sticking around for the regular season. That was not expected of him when he signed

A third-round pick of the Broncos in 2018, Freeman rushed for 1,017 yards and eight touchdowns over his first two seasons. However, Denver signed Melvin Gordon before the 2020 season and Freeman found himself third on the depth chart behind Gordon and Philip Lindsay.

Freeman has since had forgettable stints with the Panthers and Texans, but he enjoyed a nice bounce-back with the Rams last season. Second-year pro Kyren Williams took the league by storm with 1,144 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns, but Freeman proved to be a serviceable backup with 319 rushing yards and two TDs on 4.1 yards per carry.

His 78.1 rushing grade was a career-high and ranked 20th of 55 qualified running backs, per Pro Football Focus (subscription required). Additionally, Freeman's 2.91 yards after contact per carry was a tick below Tony Pollard (2.92) and ranked higher than notable backs like Alvin Kamara, Travis Etienne, D'Andre Swift, Josh Jacobs and James Cook.

Freeman likely wasn't on Cowboys fans' wishlist of running backs this offseason, but he has shut everyone up so far.

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