As the NFL trade deadline approaches, the Cowboys have a critical opportunity to address their roster shortcomings following a lackluster offseason. The most pressing issue lies in the running back position, where Dallas allowed Tony Pollard to depart in free agency without adequately replacing him.
The Cowboys didn’t draft a running back, and their only significant offseason addition was a declining Ezekiel Elliott. Currently, they sit at the bottom of the league with just 463 rushing yards.
The silver lining for the Cowboys is that they could be well-positioned to make a move for a running back as the trade deadline nears. Although the focus has been primarily on wide receivers in recent trades, the running back market could gain traction soon.
However, there’s a challenge: Jerry Jones, the team’s owner, has historically been hesitant to engage in in-season trades.
One potential target that makes sense is Jaguars running back Travis Etienne. According to ESPN’s article titled “Guide to every NFL team’s trade deadline: Candidates to be moved, targets who could fit and biggest needs,” the Cowboys might consider acquiring Etienne, who has seen his role diminish this season.
In his first two years with Jacksonville, Etienne made a significant impact, recording over 1,000 rushing yards in each season and amassing a total of 2,133 yards. He also showcased his skills as a receiver, contributing 792 yards through the air.
This season, however, Etienne has dropped to just 230 rushing yards in six games, with only nine carries in the last two weeks. Once a first-round pick from Clemson with a remarkable 4,952 career rushing yards, his decline has been stark.
A trade for Etienne could benefit the Cowboys, as noted by ESPN: “Jaguars running back Travis Etienne Jr. If a healthy defense leads to a rejuvenated team, the biggest need in Dallas remains at running back, where they are lacking explosiveness. Though he’s not a flawless runner and may have lost his starting role to Tank Bigsby, Etienne possesses big-play ability and can effectively catch passes out of the backfield. He would add more dynamic play to Rico Dowdle’s position.”
