The Dallas Cowboys are not likely trading for Adrian Peterson this offseason due to his high contract, but the NFL draft offers the chance for the team to add depth at RB, as names like Todd Gurley, Melvin Gordon, TJ Yeldon, Ameer Abdullah, Duke Johnson, Tevin Coleman and Jay Ajayi make a very deep class and they could help replace DeMarco Murray for Jerry Jones.
According to Todd Archer at ESPN.com, the Cowboys are likely to draft a running back in the first few rounds this year, as they see Darren McFadden and Joseph Randle as solid options on the depth chart after Murray left. The team could look at Gurley, who has had reported interest and draft visits with the Detroit Lions and Miami Dolphins.
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 get back in. Jay Ajayi is moving up boards and Duke Johnson has also been getting attention. Johnson is coming off of a season with 242 carries for 1652 yards and 10 touchdowns. Gordon had a fantastic season and could be the first back off the board after he rushed for over 2500 yards and scored 29 touchdowns for Wisconsin.
Abdullah is also expected to be a top target, as he had over 1600 yards and scored 19 touchdowns for Nebraska. TJ Yeldon has a winning pedigree from his career at Alabama, but after the way Trent Richardson turned out, some teams may not jump in on him early. Abdullah showed his versatility this season for Nebraska, while some consider Johnson to be a sleeper after coming out of Miami. Gurley is the most intriguing player to watch, as he dealt with a torn ACL last year but could be drafted simply based on his potential.
Gurley is 6-1, 222 pounds and is a strong runner up the middle and he also is a solid receiver out of the backfield. Last season Gurley had 911 yards and nine touchdowns and that came two years after he had 1385 yards and 17 touchdowns in 2012. Gurley scored over 30 touchdowns in three seasons with Georgia and he averaged at least six yards per carry in each season. Coleman has rushed for a school-record 2,036 yards and 15 touchdowns and he could be a sleeper pick, while Abdullah and Ajayi are both multi-purpose backs.
Peterson's contract is for three more years and has over $40 million on the deal, which would make it very tough for him to come to Dallas without restructuring. Peterson is 30 years old and while he has been very productive in his career, that is the age when most backs start breaking down. The team doesn't want to get caught up in another cap game over the next few years and that is why they likely will look at cheap options, including in the draft.
