The Cowboys need to be all over this.
The opportunities were aplenty, but the Dallas Cowboys opted against rebuilding their running back room this offseason. It is worth noting that the 2025 draft is absolutely stacked at the position, so perhaps the front office thought it'd be wiser to plug other holes and wait until next year to draft a stud.
That could explain why the Cowboys didn't sign an impact free agent and instead chose to reunite with old friend Ezekiel Elliott.
Assuming that Dak Prescott, CeeDee Lamb and Micah Parsons all receive extensions between now and next summer, Dallas will only be able to commit so many resources to the RB position. Having a rookie under contract for four years starting in 2025 is the easiest way to accomplish that.
Hopefully that's the line of thinking inside The Star, but it doesn't quell Cowboys fans' concerns for the upcoming season. It will be easier said than done for Jerry Jones to find an upgrade before it's too late, but an NFC team could lend a huge helping hand in that regard.
Cowboys should sign Khalil Herbert if cut by the Bears
A star for the Bears as recently as 2022, Herbert is suddenly on the periphery of the running back room. He's been circled as a cut candidate by Adam Jahns and Kevin Fishbain of The Athletic.
"Herbert and [2023 fourth-round pick Roschon] Johnson also worked with [rookie quarterback Caleb] Williams and the starters. And yet, it wouldn’t be surprising if Herbert is considered on the bubble at Halas Hall. He’s in a contract year and the Bears drafted Johnson last year and signed Swift this year."
The Cowboys might as well send a scout to Bears training camp. With Chicago giving D'Andre Swift one of the biggest RB contracts of any free agent, Herbert's workload, which wasn't lofty to begin with, will shrink significantly. The Bears also are bullish on second-year man Roschon Johnson and seemingly would like to create more opportunities for him.
Unleashed in 2022 after a strong rookie year, Herbert tallied 731 rushing yards in 13 games and led the league with 5.7 yards per carry. He also ranked third in rushing yards after contact per attempt and was top 15 in explosive runs despite receiving only 129 carries, per Pro Football Focus.
With a career 4.9 yards per attempt, it's mind-boggling that Herbert has only received 364 carries over his first three seasons. There's clearly more untapped potential with the 26-year-old, and he'd be a clear upgrade over Elliott and Rico Dowdle, the Cowboys' projected lead backs
It would behoove Jerry Jones to find an upgrade so the offense isn't overly dependent on Prescott and Lamb like it was in 2023. The Bears could gift Herbert on a silver platter.
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