A crucial choice has to be made by the Dallas Cowboys in the 2024 NFL Draft. They wanted to strengthen their team, especially on the offensive and defensive lines, after suffering a recent postseason loss to the 7th-seeded Green Bay Packers. Running back was one position that stayed unaltered, though.
After losing their starting running back in each of the previous two seasons, the Cowboys did not address the position when they entered the draft. Considering the caliber of running backs in the draft pool, it was evident that one was not selected. The presence of a former Cowboy, Ezekiel Elliott, created a shadow that was maybe the most fascinating subplot.
Elliott played for the team for seven seasons and was a dominant running back. He was selected fourth overall in the 2016 NFL Draft and rose to prominence fast. Elliott, who is still unrestricted, has concerns with his quickness and explosiveness. The days of his easily breaking away for home run plays are long gone. Everyone is questioning if he can still be the focal point of the Cowboys’ ground game if they decide to sign him because of the wear and tear of seven seasons.
For the Cowboys, strengthening their offensive line was a major priority in their draft plan. After losing two starters in the offseason, they made a vital addition to their roster by allocating three of their eight selections to lineman. Still, there was no running back on their selection board.
Stephen Jones, Executive Vice President of Personnel, stressed the importance of adhering to their draft board, which is why they decided against including a running back in this draft. But there’s a big hole at running back. Elliott’s 2023 replacement, Tony Pollard, did not live up to the hype despite earning a large wage. The problem was made worse by Pollard’s free agency departure to Tennessee. In any case, Dallas ought to have used a draft choice on a prospect who has the potential to lead this team in rushing backfield duties.
