Analyst names Cowboys' biggest remaining weakness

The Dallas Cowboys did little to improve their running back room this offseason, and questions about the position group linger.

In a column listing the biggest remaining roster holes in the league, NFL.com's Kevin Patra rates the Cowboys backfield at No. 10.

"Let's start our countdown with one to argue about," wrote Patra. "This feels like a true test of the theory that running backs are interchangeable. After years of disparaging Dallas for paying the going rate for RBs in a dwindling market, can we scoff at the Cowboys for going cheap at the position, given the other rising costs on the roster?"

This offseason, ex-Cowboys RB Tony Pollard signed a three-year, $21.75M deal with the Tennessee Titans. Dallas then reunited with RB Ezekiel Elliott (one-year, $2M contract) and didn't draft another back.
Despite rushing for a career-low 3.5 yards per carry in 17 games with New England last season, Elliott recently told The Athletic's Jon Machota he still considers himself a "starter." However, he's willing to partake in an RB by committee if that helps the team win.

Elliott will likely split carries with Rico Dowdle, who flashed promise in 16 games in 2023. Per Pro Football Focus, the 26-year-old RB recorded career highs in forced missed tackles (14) and runs of 10-plus yards (seven). He only had 89 rushing attempts, though, which is a small sample size. 

In a Cowboys' offseason roundtable, Machota suggested Dallas will add another back before the start of the season (former Pro Bowler Dalvin Cook?).

Dallas can count on its aerial attack, which finished third in the league in passing yards (258.6) last season, but the Cowboys want to avoid becoming one-dimensional. Unless Dowdle and Elliott exceed expectations in training camp and preseason, shoring up the backfield seems wise.