The Dallas Cowboys’ running game was a glaring weak spot in 2024, and the team’s lackluster approach to addressing it last offseason left fans frustrated. After losing Tony Pollard to free agency, Dallas leaned on a fading Ezekiel Elliott and an unproven Rico Dowdle to lead the backfield. The results? Predictably underwhelming. While Dowdle showed flashes of promise before bolting to Carolina, the Cowboys’ rushing attack lacked the punch needed to compete in a stacked NFC. Fast forward to 2025, and the front office has taken a bolder approach—but is it enough to avoid another embarrassing regression?
A New-Look Backfield: Big Names, Big Questions
This offseason, Dallas made waves by signing two high-profile free agents: Miles Sanders and Javonte Williams. Both players boast impressive resumes—Sanders earned Pro Bowl honors in 2022, and both made their respective All-Rookie teams. The Cowboys didn’t stop there, drafting Phil Mafah and Jaydon Blue in April to inject youth into the mix. On paper, this quartet looks like a deep, versatile group capable of transforming Dallas’ ground game. But dig a little deeper, and cracks start to appear.
In 2024, Sanders and Williams combined for a measly 800 yards, with Williams serving as his team’s primary starter. For a position where youth and explosiveness reign supreme, these numbers raise red flags. Neither player has consistently recaptured the form that made them standouts early in their careers. Meanwhile, rookies Mafah and Blue, while intriguing, weren’t exactly blue-chip prospects coming out of college. Expecting either to seize the RB1 role in training camp feels like a gamble—one the Cowboys might not be able to afford.
The Trade Temptation: Blake Corum to the Rescue?
With questions swirling around their current stable of backs, some analysts are urging Dallas to make a splashy move. Daniel Arwas of Heavy.com recently floated Los Angeles Rams running back Blake Corum as an ideal trade target. Young, explosive, and stuck behind Kyren Williams on the Rams’ depth chart, Corum could bring the dynamism Dallas desperately needs. At just 24, he’s a stark contrast to the older, more battle-worn Sanders and Williams, offering the kind of fresh legs that thrive in today’s NFL.
But prying Corum away from Los Angeles won’t be easy. The Rams rely heavily on Kyren Williams, whose high-usage rate makes him an injury risk. If Williams goes down, Corum becomes indispensable. Trading him would gut L.A.’s backfield depth, making it a tough sell—especially when Dallas’ own depth is already crowded. Adding another back to the mix could spark a competition that’s as chaotic as it is competitive, potentially muddying the waters for a coaching staff already under pressure to deliver.
Urgency or Overreaction? The Cowboys’ Dilemma
Last year’s lack of urgency left Dallas with a patchwork running game that couldn’t keep pace. This time around, the front office has shown more ambition, but the question remains: have they done enough? Sanders and Williams bring name recognition, but their recent production suggests they’re far from locks as RB1. Mafah and Blue could surprise, but leaning on unproven rookies in a win-now season is a risky proposition. And while Corum might be the spark Dallas needs, chasing a trade could signal a lack of faith in the current roster—a move that risks alienating players and complicating the depth chart.
The Cowboys don’t need to panic just yet. Training camp will reveal whether Sanders or Williams can reclaim their early-career form or if one of the rookies is ready to break out. At least two of these backs should emerge as reliable contributors, capable of carrying the load in a scheme that maximizes their strengths. If Dallas can’t find a clear RB1 among this group, it’s not just a roster failure—it’s a coaching and front-office misstep that could haunt them in 2025.
The Bottom Line
The Cowboys’ revamped backfield is a high-stakes experiment. With Sanders, Williams, Mafah, and Blue, they have the pieces to build a formidable rushing attack—but only if the parts fit together. Another lackluster season on the ground could spell disaster for a team with Super Bowl aspirations. For now, Dallas should hold off on blockbuster trades and focus on what they have. Training camp will be the proving ground. If the Cowboys can’t find their RB1, 2025 could mark another shocking step backward for America’s Team.