For the third season in a row, the Dallas Cowboys face potential changes at running back. After parting ways with Ezekiel Elliott ahead of the 2023 season, they handed the reins to Tony Pollard but did not offer him a long-term contract.

Pollard left in free agency in 2024, and Elliott made a brief return, only to be released before the season ended. The starting role ultimately went to Rico Dowdle, who made history as the first undrafted free agent in Cowboys’ history to rush for over 1,000 yards.

It’s been a wild ride at running back, and it might continue to be uncertain for a while.

Past: This is one position where the Cowboys have typically invested heavily, with the notable exception of trading Herschel Walker for a massive haul of draft picks. That trade, which rocked the NFL, helped propel the Cowboys into the dynasty that dominated the early- to mid-1990s.

Generally speaking, the Cowboys have boasted an embarrassment of riches at running back. From Don Perkins and Walt Garrison to Calvin Hill, from Tony Dorsett to Emmitt Smith, the NFL’s all-time rushing leader, from Marion “The Barbarian” Barber to Julius Jones, from DeMarco Murray to Ezekiel Elliott and Tony Pollard — Dallas has consistently been successful at drafting and developing running backs. They even managed to turn Darren McFadden into a 1,000-yard rusher in 2015.

However, they’ve had their mistakes, too. One notable misstep was trusting Felix Jones to be RB1, followed by Joseph Randle, who failed to live up to expectations and ultimately was removed from the league due to off-field issues.

But for the most part, it’s rare to find a team as adept at scouting running back talent as the Cowboys.

Present: Elliott believed, as we were all told, that the Cowboys would use a running back committee, and they certainly gave it a try. Unfortunately, the experiment failed badly, much like the wide receiver-by-committee approach after Dez Bryant’s departure.

The position became a jumbled mess, with Elliott even being made inactive at one point due to behavioral issues, a failed attempt to integrate Dalvin Cook, and the complete neglect of using Deuce Vaughn or Hunter Luepke.

The lone steady force was Dowdle, who had a breakout season.

The issue now is that Dowdle is set to hit unrestricted free agency, and after his career year, he will likely seek more than a one-year deal. There’s also potential in Malik Davis on the practice squad, but he hasn’t shown enough to be considered a sure solution if Dowdle leaves.

Future: This situation puts the Cowboys in a worse position than last spring, when they tried throwing various players like Royce Freeman and Snoop Conner at the problem, only for undrafted rookie Nathaniel Peat to fail in training camp.

If Dowdle leaves, the Cowboys could be in real trouble.

If Dowdle re-signs, they will still need to find a true complementary back. Depending on who takes over the offensive playcalling, Vaughn and/or Luepke could become factors, but the Cowboys should still consider adding a veteran in free agency to support Dowdle, or perhaps the better approach would be to target a promising prospect in the 2025 NFL Draft.

If Kellen Moore is named head coach, will the former Boise State star advocate for selecting Ashton Jeanty, a dynamic playmaker and Heisman contender?

So many questions remain, and the answers will soon emerge.