3 Running Backs the Cowboys Should Draft if Tony Pollard Leaves
The Dallas Cowboys should seriously consider drafting one of these running backs if Tony Pollard leaves in free agency.
Facing a make-or-break season in 2024, the Dallas Cowboys appear ready to shake things up. The latest word around the Cowboys is that the team will allow Tony Pollard to test the free agency waters, which sets the stage for his exit.
Luckily, April’s NFL Draft provides the chance to acquire a young running back who can help this squad fulfill its Super Bowl dreams, all while not costing nearly as much as the Pro Bowler.
With that in mind, here are three RBs the Cowboys need to consider drafting if Pollard exits this offseason.
1. Jonathan Brooks, Texas
The task of replacing the production from Pollard, the team’s leading rusher in each of the past two seasons, won’t be an easy one. Dallas can’t afford to let this area of the offense completely drop off, either, since it’ll make things more difficult for the passing attack.
That’s why the Cowboys could take a chance on the draft’s premier RB prospect, Jonathan Brooks.
Brooks is widely regarded as the best running back in the 2024 class following a breakout 2023 campaign that saw him post 1,139 yards, 10 rushing TDs and a whopping 6.1 YPC. He flashed some dual-threat upside as well with another 25 receptions for 286 yards (good for 11.4 YPR).
Unlike the undersized Deuce Vaughn, Brooks has the frame at 6 feet and 207 pounds to battle against the behemoths at the NFL level. He’s also just 20 years old, so he’s barely scratched the surface of his potential following one good year.
While Brooks doesn’t have the level of hype like a Bijan Robinson or Jahmyr Gibbs, that works to Dallas’ advantage, as he’s projected to be around a mid-to-late second-round pick right now. With the No. 56 selection, the Cowboys are in prime position to bring the University of Texas product home.
