The second half of the season showed significant improvement from the Dallas Cowboys’ run game, which had a generally disappointing 2024 season. While there were some positive moments, they didn’t matter much as Dallas found themselves far out of playoff contention once their ground game started to show some signs of life.
Rico Dowdle emerged as the top option during this stretch, finally securing the No. 1 spot despite the team’s original plan to have him split carries with Ezekiel Elliott. Dowdle somewhat salvaged the situation, reaching the 1,000-yard mark, while Elliott struggled, failing to accumulate even 250 yards for the year.
This mixed performance stemmed from Dallas’ lack of urgency regarding the running back position in the 2024 offseason. Jerry Jones and the Cowboys signed an aging running back and relied on a veteran practice squad player to shoulder the load, a strategy that, unsurprisingly, didn’t work.
The Cowboys need a clear plan to fix their run game and reduce some of the pressure on Dak Prescott in the passing game. This could be achieved through free agency or the draft, but a trade could also be a viable option to acquire their next running back.
Maurice Moton of Bleacher Report has proposed a bold trade that would send Travis Etienne of the Jacksonville Jaguars to Dallas.
Etienne will be entering the final year of his rookie contract in 2025, with a $6.1 million cap hit. The third-year running back experienced a noticeable drop in performance this season, which is largely due to Tank Bigsby’s presence in the Jaguars’ backfield.
Whether he stays in Jacksonville or not, Etienne may be on his way out and could be looking for a fresh start. At just 25 years old, his dual-threat ability as both a runner and a pass catcher would be a valuable asset to the Cowboys.
The key issue, however, is the cost beyond his cap hit, which likely includes giving up some draft capital. If the Cowboys acquire Etienne and he leaves after the season, they could face the possibility of wasting a pick.
Dallas already traded away a pick in their unusual November deal for Jonathan Mingo. Any potential trades before April must be carefully considered in terms of costs. The biggest hurdle, however, is the ongoing search for a head coach at The Star.
Once the coaching situation is settled, the Cowboys can move forward with these decisions and truly focus on building their roster. Whenever that process begins, they will need to make more informed decisions in reshaping their backfield.
