Who should the Cowboys select at running back? These players make the most sense
The NFL Draft is less than three weeks away, as the Dallas Cowboys are putting the finishing touches on their draft board before making 10 selections from the pool of available college talent.
In Pick Fit, we’ll take a look at each position group ahead of the draft to determine which players make sense in each round of the draft for the Cowboys. We start with running back.
At running back, the Cowboys have just Deuce Vaughn and practice squad member Malik Davis returning from last year’s roster. In free agency, they added Javonte Williams and Miles Sanders, but there’s still a need for a starting-caliber running back. A workhorse who can carry the ball on early downs will be critical toward offensive success in the first season under head coach Brian Schottenheimer.
Here are running backs that make sense for the Cowboys to take in each round of the draft.
First Round: Ashton Jeanty (Boise State)
In my opinion, there is only one running back worthy of a top-12 selection, and it’s Heisman Trophy runnerup Ashton Jeanty. The likelihood of Jeanty falling to No. 12 is not high, as running back-needy teams such as the Las Vegas Raiders and Chicago Bears pick before Dallas in the first round, but we’ve similarly surprising falls, such as CeeDee Lamb falling to Dallas at No. 17 in 2020.
Mel Kiper of ESPN has mocked North Carolina running back Omarion Hampton to the Cowboys on multiple occasions, but I don’t get the sense that Dallas would select any running back other than Jeanty with its first pick in talking to team sources.
Second Round: TreVeyon Henderson (Ohio State)
A running back with the potential to be a long-term starter in the NFL, TreVeyon Henderson has the ability to play on all three downs with his inside zone ability on early downs and his receiving capabilities on late downs. To add to his skill set, he has a claim on being the best pass protecting running back in the draft class. His intentional off the field demeanor made him a team captain at Ohio State, as sources in Columbus have raved about his ability to be a good teammate.
The Cowboys pick at No. 44 in the second round, and they would have to hope that there isn’t a run on the position group if they want a shot at Henderson. But if the second round opens up with Henderson still on the board, the likelihood certainly increases.
Third Round: Bhayshul Tuten (Virginia Tech)
One of the more athletic running backs in the class from his performance at the NFL Scouting Combine, Bhayshul Tuten could provide the type of early down consistency that Dallas is seeking in the draft. His ability to create big plays out of nothing with his breakaway speed and quick cutting ability makes him one of the more intriguing running backs in the draft.
Picking at No. 76 in the third round, Tuten has a solid chance of being available when the Cowboys are on the clock. If they do not pick a running back in the first two rounds, Tuten would be a great fallback option to pick in the third round to immediately place in the starting lineup.
Fourth Round: Kyle Monangai (Rutgers)
One of the more physical runners in the draft class, Kyle Monangai packs a punch with his bowling ball running style and his stiff pass protecting ability. Charles Davis of CBS said earlier this week that Monangai is the most perfect fit for the Cowboys at running back, and it’s easy to see why with his consistency and production in four years at Rutgers.
Now, the Cowboys do not own a pick in the fourth round, as they sent it away to the Carolina Panthers in a trade when they acquired wide receiver Jonathan Mingo last season. But the Cowboys could pick up draft capital to get back into the fourth round with a draft weekend trade if the right offer is available.
Fifth Round: Corey Kiner (Cincinnati)
In the state of Ohio, Corey Kiner is one of the more revered high school talents in the state’s history with what he was able to do at the prep level. After beginning his career at LSU, Kiner returned to his home state to play for Cincinnati where he starred as a physical downhill runner. Kiner doesn’t have the big play ability that other backs in the class have, but he does have the ability to wear a defense down as the game goes on.
The Cowboys will have two selections in the fifth round at No. 149 and No. 174. If they enter day three without a running back and do not trade back into the fourth round, you can almost guarantee that one of those selections will be made at the running back position.
Sixth Round: Phil Mafah (Clemson)
After back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons at Clemson, Phil Mafah enters the draft with a history of production that could make him an intriguing day three option. He doesn’t bring much from an athleticism standpoint, but he wouldn’t necessarily need to bring that on early downs with Javonte Williams on the roster.
Ideally, the Cowboys address the running back position much earlier than the sixth round, but Mafah brings a big presence at 6-foot-1, 234 pounds that will be a nightmare for opposing defenses.
Seventh Round: Montrell Johnson Jr. (Florida)
In evaluating running backs, scouts typically like to find guys who fall forward for extra yardage as they are being brought down, and Montrell Johnson certainly fits that mold. While he doesn’t have a ton of juice on the outside and is limited in the receiving game, his ability to get hard-earned carries of four to six yards could be enough to sustain offensive drives in the NFL.
The Cowboys will have three selections in the seventh round. Even if they do draft a running back early, there is a reality where they circle back once again at the position late in the draft to add competition to the position room.
