Letting breakout running back Rico Dowdle walk for a bargain price is haunting the Dallas Cowboys’ front office as he continues to shine for the Carolina Panthers.
DALLAS — In the cutthroat world of the NFL, where every financial decision is scrutinized, the Dallas Cowboys are facing severe backlash for a now-regrettable offseason move: allowing running back Rico Dowdle, a 1,000-yard rusher from last season, to depart for the Carolina Panthers on a bargain $2.75 million deal.
While the Cowboys’ brass pat themselves on the back for signing Javonte Williams—a solid but more expensive free-agent acquisition—Dowdle is making them look foolish with his stellar play in Carolina.
According to ESPN’s metrics expert Aaron Schatz: “Since entering the Carolina lineup in place of the injured Chuba Hubbard this season, Dowdle has been special.” The running back has racked up 149 carries for 788 yards and five touchdowns, averaging a blistering 5.3 yards per carry.
More impressively, Dowdle now ranks 3rd in the NFL in Rushing Yards Over Expected (RYOE) and 4th in Defense-adjusted Value Over Average (DVOA). This marks a dramatic leap from last season when he ranked just 22nd in RYOE while with Dallas.
Dowdle’s breakout season underscores a simple truth: all he needed was an opportunity. In Carolina, he was handed the starting role and told to be the workhorse, whereas in Dallas, he was merely a complementary piece in a star-studded offensive system.
Cowboys fans have taken to social media to express their outrage over the front office’s miscalculation. What seemed like a minor $2.75 million savings now looms as one of the most costly missteps of the Cowboys’ season.