Dallas – The Dallas Cowboys’ 3.5 yards per carry now rank them No. 28 in the league, and their two losses this season have been greatly attributed to their ineffective running game. The offense suffers and defenses are able to focus on the pass since they are unable to create runs that will slow down the pass rush or generate significant bursts down the field. The Cowboys’ longest run of the season, at 12 yards, came from quarterback Dak Prescott. For Dallas’ offensive scheme to work, they must have a respectable rushing game. For the Cowboys, depending on Prescott to pass the ball forty or more times in a game is simply not a winning formula.
By the trade deadline of November 5, the Cowboys, in the opinion of ESPN’s Dan Graziano, might bolster their backfield. “They did not invest in the position this offseason and are not generating much in the run game so far,” Graziano stated. “Perhaps they could benefit from an outside push…”
After rushing all over the Cowboys defense last Sunday, free agency running back Derrick Henry was passed on by Cowboys owner Jerry Jones in the summer in favor of returning Ezekiel Elliot.
Elliott has accumulated 81 yards on 24 carries thus far this season. Henry has 281 yards and four touchdowns on 56 carries. It appears that they were late to the party. The Cowboys could make a trade for Miles Sanders, the running back for the Carolina Panthers, according to Graziano. But hold on, Elliott has more carries and yards this season than the former Pro Bowl running back.
And one more “but wait” What might motivate Dallas to engage in this “double-spending” behavior? That is, the $6 million that we have set aside as a prorated share for Sanders’ salary plus the cost of the deal (a draft pick)? Graziano speculates that Carolina might foot a percentage of the Cowboys’ salary, but that is just conjecture, not evidence gleaned from a source. What proof is there, in the end, that Sanders, who was correct to believe he would have been the best back on this Dallas team, is still correct?
In order to avoid cap space issues in 2025, it would be more prudent, affordable, and expedient for a Dallas team to add Dalvin Cook to the 53-man roster.
