The Dallas Cowboys went against the grain in the NFL draft by not taking a running back despite having a need and Jason Garrett said he is happy with Darren McFadden and Joseph Randle as the starters on the depth chart and this comes as names like Knowshon Moreno, Steven Jackson or Chris Johnson could be potential free agent additions after the team drafted risky prospect Randy Gregory.
The Cowboys went with a safe pick in the first round with Bryon Jones at cornerback and now he could be a starter for the team over Morris Claiborne. The team took a risk in the second round but got great value in Gregory, who slipped after dealing with some off the field issues. The Cowboys have experience with these types of players and adding Gregory is a risk, but one with a high upside if it works out.
The Cowboys have been a smart team in the draft over the past few years, so that is one reason why the absence of a running back should not be a major concern. There are some veteran names on the market like Knowshon Moreno, Steven Jackson and Chris Johnson and they could be additions for the Cowboys heading into camp. McFadden comes in as the starter, but Randle could make an impression and if Ryan Williams stays healthy, he could contribute with Lance Dunbar.
The team was able to control Jerry Jones last year and stopped him from drafting Johnny Manziel and they went with Travis Frederick, which added more depth to an already stacked offensive line. The team allowed DeMarco Murray to walk in free agency because they felt so good about the offensive line and that same logic likely went into what the team did in the draft.
The running back class was considered a deep one this year and after missing out on Todd Gurley and Melvin Gordon in the first round, the Cowboys had options. Ameer Abdullah went to the Lions, while players like Jeremy Langford, David Johnson, Jay Ajayi and Tevin Coleman were drafted. Coleman could have been an interesting option, as the team worked him out and were impressed with his skills heading into the draft.
Gregory was considered a top 10 talent and he ended up slipping to the second round and he could pay off big for the Cowboys. The team was one of the worst at sacking the quarterback last season and now they have Greg Hardy (who will miss time) and Gregory coming in to improve things. Gregory has the potential to be a great player and according to the Dallas Morning News, he has asked the Cowboys to help him with his life off the field, similar to what the team did with Dez Bryant.
McFadden comes in after staying healthy with the Raiders last season for the first time in his career and now he has the chance to start for the Cowboys. Randle showed some flashes of potential last season and Garrett said that he likes the dynamic between the two players. The team added a number of players at need positions in the draft and now Garrett is ready to move forward with what he has at running back.