One of the offseason needs for the Dallas Cowboys is help at the running back position. After letting Joseph Randle go, the team has Darren McFadden returning and not much else. McFadden is expected to play a big role in the run game in 2016 like he is contracted to do, but the Cowboys must add depth and talent behind him. Instead of looking for a high-priced free agent or top draft pick, could the team simply bring back in-house options?
According to ESPN's Todd Archer, retaining Robert Turbin might not be a bad idea for the Cowboys in 2016. Turbin was brought on in the middle of the year when Lance Dunbar went down with an injury. In 10 games with the team he put up 139 yards and a touchdown off 32 carries. Turbin barely saw the field with Dallas, but made the most of the time he got. He put up a season-high 51 yards on seven carries against the Green Bay Packers while proving he can be a reliable target when needed. Keeping Turbin on a short-term deal to help add depth to the rotation would be a smart move for Dallas.
The issue for Turbin is Dunbar. According to Archer, the chances both running backs return are slim, but at least one could be re-signed. It seems Dunbar might be the favored back even with the torn ACL he suffered in 2015. Dunbar showed versatility that Turbin does not have. He thrives as a pass-catching running back while being solid on special teams and third-down plays. The Cowboys might be able to get him on a cheaper deal than Turbin which could be the deciding factor.
The Cowboys are in a good place financially, but that does not mean they are going to be willing to overpay at the running back spot. The Dallas Morning News has to team linked to players like Matt Forte, Lamar Miller and Chris Ivory, but they could all be too expensive for Dallas to consider. The team is not going to give someone the type of deal DeMarco Murray inked last year which is what players like Miller and Ivory might be able to command.
Dallas could simply turn to the NFL Draft. Several mock drafts have the team selecting a back in the second round with either Ezekiel Elliott or Derrick Henry headed to Texas. Much of that could be determined by what Dallas does in the first round. If they want a quarterback and do not select one in the first round, they will reach for someone in the second. The running back position could get pumped to the third round for someone like Kenneth Dixon or Alex Collins.
