The Dallas Cowboys have signed Darren McFadden since losing DeMarco Murray to the Eagles and they could look at adding more running backs, as an Adrian Peterson trade with the Vikings is an option, while names like Todd Gurley, Melvin Gordon, Ameer Abdullah, TJ Yeldon, Duke Johnson and Tevin Coleman are potential targets and this comes after the team signed Greg Hardy.
The Cowboys are expected to look at running backs in the draft after signing McFadden, as they could use more depth at the position after losing Murray. The team was one of the best in football rushing the ball last season and the Cowboys feel that part of Murray's success was the system they run. McFadden comes in as a low risk option and the team also could consider a trade for Adrian Peterson, but that is not close to happening as of yet.
According to David Moore of the Dallas Morning News, the Cowboys will host running back Melvin Gordon on a pre-draft visit and this comes as Todd Gurley is also starting to visit teams. Gordon has been one of the most productive running backs in college football history and he comes out of Wisconsin after rushing for 2587 yards and 29 touchdowns. Gordon is a junior and he could be a main target in the draft for teams in need of a running back along with Gurley, who comes in after dealing with an ACL injury. McFadden gives the Cowboys a solid option to pair with Joseph Randle, but they need a long term solution to help take over for Murray and Gordon could be an option.
The Cowboys have the number 27 pick in the first round and while running backs have started to dip out of that round over the past few years, this could be the year they jump back in. The class in 2015 is very deep and names like Gurley, Gordon, Yeldon and Abdullah are considered some of the best. Jay Ajayi has been getting a lot of attention along with Tevin Coleman and Duke Johnson and if those players don't go early on, they likely will be gone on the second day.
Abdullah and Ajayi are both multi-purpose backs and that could get scouts to look at them closely, while Gordon and Gurley are considered the two best runners of the group. Gordon is also meeting with the Cardinals and it's likely he will have more visits lined up after the season he had at Wisconsin. Gordon has ideal size at 6-foot-1 and 215 pounds and while his 40-time at the combine wasn't great, it shouldn't hurt his stock much.
The Adrian Peterson interest for the Cowboys likely went down a little bit after signing McFadden to a deal, but there is a chance Jerry Jones could step up and make a move. According to Pro Football Talk, the Vikings have said they will not be releasing Peterson, which means his contract for 2015 will stay at $12.75 million in base salary unless he renegotiates the deal. That makes it tough for the Cowboys to add him with that cap hit and it comes after the team signed Hardy to a one year deal. The team struggled in the pass rush last season and now they add a Pro Bowl talent to the mix.