The Dallas Cowboys' return from their bye didn't go as planned on Sunday. Despite having an extra week to plan for the San Francisco 49ers in Week 8, the Cowboys couldn't get the job done as they fell 30-24 at Levi's Stadium, dropping their season record to 3-4 in the process.
America's Team lost to the 49ers due to several reasons, including continued abysmal play from the running back room. Even with Dalvin Cook now in the fold, the running back room couldn't get anything going against the 49ers as the Cowboys only mustered 56 rushing yards and a touchdown on 19 carries.
Even though the NFL trade deadline isn't until next week, it's hard to imagine Dallas pulling off a big splash to upgrade the backfield in the coming days. The season is practically a write-off at this point, meaning it's more likely that owner/general manager Jerry Jones will go RB hunting during the offseason.
The 2025 NFL draft will offer the Cowboys plenty of opportunities to find their running back of the future, which is exactly what happened in Pro Football Focus's latest mock draft.
With the Cowboys currently projected to hold next year's 12th-overall selection, PFF has the franchise drafting Boise State RB Ashton Jeanty in Round 1.
The dynamic running back prospect is still close to a year away from making his NFL debut, however, that isn't stopping PFF's Trevor Sikkema from imagining the impact Jeanty could have in Dallas.
"(The Cowboys) need a true running back who they can lean on, and Jeanty is the best in college football," wrote Sikkema. "He is having one of the most efficient and explosive rushing seasons ever recorded."
Jeanty, 21, has taken the college football world by storm throughout the 2024 NCAA season. The Boise State runner currently paces the nation in rushing yards (1,376) and total touchdowns (19) while also posting an MWC-leading 8.7 yards per carry. He's yet to rush for fewer than 128 yards in a game and has already surpassed the 200-yard mark three times.
Last week, Jeanty admitted on a live stream that he "would be a hometown here" if he was drafted by the Cowboys next year. The dynamic rusher played high school football in Frisco, Texas, which is less than a one-hour drive outside of Dallas.
If he does make a homecoming, Cowboys fans would welcome Jeanty with wide-open arms considering the current state of the backfield. Whether it's been Cook, Ezekiel Elliott or Deuce Vaughn, nobody from Dallas' RB room has produced results this season.
If ownership wants to end the Super Bowl drought soon, he needs to build a reliable backfield. That's why the Cowboys can't afford to pass on Jeanty if he's still available when they make their next first-round draft selection.
For now, the Cowboys will hope for an improved rushing performance when they face the Atlanta Falcons in Week 9. The Falcons have been generous to opposing RBs, having surrendered the 12th-most rushing yards per game through eight weeks.
