The Dallas Cowboys have done nothing but swing and miss thus far in free agency. Well, not completely. They re-signed long-snapper Trent Sieg on Tuesday. As of this writing, that is the Cowboys' lone move of the legal tampering period.
It's unclear how active the Cowboys have been in the running back market, but they allowed Tony Pollard to ink a three-year, $24 million deal with the Titans. In light of that news, droves of Dallas diehards campaigned for the team to sign Derrick Henry, whom Pollard is replacing in Tennessee.
Somewhat predictably, that didn't happen as Henry signed with the Ravens. What makes it all the more frustrating is that Henry was highly affordable. Per reports, Henry inked a two-year, $16 million contract with Baltimore with a max value of $20 million.
The Cowboys could have made that work if they wanted to. Now, the running back pickings are slim entering day three of the FA frenzy. They need to get someone in the door before the market dries up completely. With that in mind, let's rank the best remaining free agents.
6. Clyde Edwards-Helaire
It says a lot about Edwards-Helaire's disappointing Chiefs tenure that he was surpassed on the depth chart by Isiah Pacheco and Jerick McKinnon. The former 2021 first-round pick has averaged a respectable 4.2 yards per carry in his career, but is fresh off logging a lowly 3.2 yards per tote this past season.
Edwards-Helaire would be a safe, albeit uninspiring signing by the Cowboys. What he lacks in vision and power between the tackles he makes up for in pass-protection and as a receiving threat out of the backfield. Most importantly, his $1.6 million projected market value aligns almost perfectly with Dallas' reported budget.
5. A.J. Dillon
If the Cowboys are solely searching for a mauler, look no further A.J. Dillon, who garnered the "Quadzilla" nickname after he rushed for 124 yards and two touchdowns against the Titans as a rookie in 2020. At 6-foot and 247 pounds, Dillon is seldom brought down by the first defender.
In the right offense, Dillon can flourish as a short-yardage specialist. He accumulated over 2,400 rushing yards and 16 touchdowns in four seasons with the Packers. The Cowboys foolishly bypassed signing Aaron Jones, who got released by Green Bay after the team signed Josh Jacobs, but they'd do well by signing Dillon, who's earned a PFF grade north of 75.0 in each of his first four seasons in the league.
4. Rico Dowdle
For much of last season, Cowboys fans wanted to see more Rico Dowdle and less Tony Pollard. A restricted free agent, Dowdle impressed seemingly every time his number was called. He only averaged 4.1 yards per carry in 2023, but he brought a needed physical edge to Dallas' stagnant rushing attack.
Per PFF, Dowdle posted 2.91 yards after contact per carry in 2023. The 25-year-old doesn't offer much upside as a receiver but he's a wrecking ball in open space and is more than willing to get his hands dirty as a pass-blocker.
3. Damien Harris
Damien Harris has experienced a fall from grace following his breakout 2019 campaign with the Patriots when he rushed for 929 yards and a league-high 15 touchdowns. Injuries saw him get leapfrogged on the depth chart by Rhamondre Stevenson, but Harris has always been an efficient ball-carrier.
Harris signed a one-year, $1.77 million deal with Buffalo last offseason. Odds are his price tag has only decreased as he only appeared in six games in 2023 due to a neck injury. A physical back who finishes every carry with a vengeance, Harris could prove to be one of the most underrated signings at the running back position.
If his medicals check out, Dallas should be interested.
2. J.K. Dobbins
It wasn't long ago that Dobbins was regarded as one of the best young backs in the game. Unfortunately, the former Ohio State star has run into a brutal run of injuries. Dobbins suffered a torn ACL in his second year in 2021 and missed nine games in 2022 due to a knee injury before tearing his Achilles in Week 1 this season.
Dobbins has played nine games in three seasons since his breakout rookie year. When healthy, Dobbins has been a treat to watch. He's averaged 5.8 yards per carry in his career and is a three-down back as he can beat a defense with both power and explosiveness.
Dobbins has the most potential of the remaining running backs and is already running five and a half months removed from Achilles surgery. However, his history of lower leg injuries will serve as a red flag -- if not a non-starter -- for most teams.
1. D'Onta Foreman
Dobbins would be No. 1 if not for the injuries, but Foreman has picked up steam as a potential Cowboys target after the team missed out on Henry and Zack Moss. A Texas City native who starred in college for the Longhorns, bringing Foreman back home makes a ton of sense.
Like the aforementioned A.J. Dillon, multiple defenders are needed to bring Foreman down, but Foreman is the better all-around rusher. Many Bears writers presumed Foreman would be fazed out by younger backs Khalil Herbert and Roschon Johnson, but the vet finished second on the team with 425 rushing yards and tied for first with four rushing scores.
Foreman shouldn't be leaned on as a workhorse back, but he's also one season removed from compiling 914 rushing yards and five TDs as Carolina's lead back. As a third-tier free agent, it might take time for Foreman to sign, but he could also come off the board quickly at the rate the running back market has moved so far.
The Cowboys better not be caught sleeping.