Cowboys still hope to re-sign DeMarco Murray, but big money RB contracts don’t help

The Cowboys entered the weekend confident they still had a chance to re-sign DeMarco Murray despite the fact he has gone shopping. But the contracts given to running backs the past few days haven’t helped the Cowboys’ cause.

Marshawn Lynch agreed to a three-year, $31 million deal with the Seahawks, getting $12 million this year with a $4.5 million base salary and a $7.5 million signing bonus.

LeSean McCoy agreed to a five-year, $40 million contract with the Bills after Philadelphia traded him. He gets $16 million this season and has $26.5 million guaranteed.

Mark Ingram re-signed with the Saints for four years and $16 million. That’s what the Cowboys offered Murray in September before he had a breakout year with a league-leading 1,845 rushing yards.

The Cowboys now have to hope that teams willing to pay big money for a running back are out of the market. They also can sell Murray with their offensive line, which, after re-signing Doug Free on Saturday, remains intact, and no state income tax.

If Murray leaves, the Cowboys will have to replace him. Joseph Randle isn’t the answer as the feature back. Here are some options for them if they have to join the running back market:

Free agents

Player=Age=Former team=Career rushing yards=2014 cap hit

C.J. Spiller=27=Bills=3,321=$5.91 million

Ryan Mathews=27=Chargers=4,061=$3.6 million

Darren McFadden=27=Raiders=4,247=$1.7 million

Knowshon Moreno=27=Dolphins=$3 million

Justin Forsett=29=Ravens=2,958=$570,000

*Contract numbers are from spotrac

Draft prospects

Player=School=Height=weight=career yards

Todd Gurley=Georgia=6-1=222=3,285

Melvin Gordon=Wisconsin=6-1=215=4,915

Ameer Abdullah=Nebraska=5-9=205=4,588

Jay Ajayi=Boise State=6-0=221=3,796

Duke Johnson=Miami=5-9=207=2,599

*Rankings are from CBS Sportsline