After losing Tony Pollard on the free agent market, the Dallas Cowboys appear to be starting over at the running back position.
The team took a step toward restructuring the position on Monday by re-signing Rico Dowdle to a one-year contract.
Dowdle is coming off the most productive season of his four injury-plagued years in Dallas, rushing for 361 yards on 89 carries (4.1 yards per carry) and scoring two touchdowns. He added two scores and 144 yards on 17 catches.
He currently leads a running back team that includes Deuce Vaughn, Malik Davis and Snoop Connor.
But the Cowboys are far from strengthening the position in the free agent sector and the upcoming 2024 NFL Draft.
What is certain is that the Cowboys wanted to offer the position cheaper in 2024 after paying Pollard $10.1 million in 2023 and the departed Ezekiel Elliott $12.4 million in 2022.
Elliott still projects $6 million against the Cowboys’ salary cap in 2024.
Pollard signed a three-year, $24 million contract with the Tennessee Titans. And the Cowboys did not bid for the services of other veterans in free agency, including Derrick Henry and Saquon Barkley.
But Vice President Stephen Jones said the team has a plan for the position.
“This organization is built on great running backs, whether it’s Tony Dorsett, Herschel Walker, Emmitt Smith, Ezekiel Elliott or Tony Pollard,” Jones said last week. “We’re big believers in running backs. They bring a lot to the table.”
“Unfortunately, we’re at a point where we have to make some decisions about where we’re going to invest the money,” he said. “We believe there are ways to address the running back situation more efficiently. We’ll see how that works out.”
Pollard was the first step.
Possibilities in the draft include Texas running back Jonathon Boroks, Blake Corum, Trey Benson, Bucky IRving and Jaylen Wright.
