The Dallas Cowboys have had a lot of problems this season on both sides of the ball. One of the biggest reasons for a disappointing 3-5 start to the 2024 NFL season has been the run game.
The Cowboys, led by running backs Rico Dowdle and Ezekiel Elliott, rank 31st in the NFL in rushing yards per game, averaging just 82.0.
Sure, a big reason for the lack of production on the ground has been the offensive line. Left tackle Tyler Guyton and center Cooper Beebe, both rookies, make up two-fifths of the starting line, while right tackle Terence Steele has underperformed.
But this does not take away from the lack of talent Mike McCarthy and company have in the backfield. Dowdle, who has received the majority of the carries, went undrafted in 2020, while Elliott is far from his prime.
In fact, Elliott received the bench treatment for Dallas' loss to the Atlanta Falcons due to disciplinary reasons, giving veteran Dalvin Cook some more playing time.
Still, if Jerry Jones doesn't look for answers before the trade deadline, he could during the 2025 NFL draft.
Chris Licata of Athlon Sports believes he's found the perfect replacement for Zeke to help quarterback Dak Prescott in the future.
Licata named Boise State Broncos superstar Ashton Jeanty as the ideal running back for the Cowboys.
As the draft order sits through nine weeks, Dallas would be selecting in the middle of the first round. Jeanty has the skillset that could very possibly see him go in the top 10, meaning Jones would have to move up to get the Heisman Trophy hopeful.
"The Cowboys are probably too talented not to win a few more games," Licata wrote. "So the expectation is they'll be stuck picking in the middle of the first round in April. That may legitimately put them out of range to select Boise State's Ashton Jeanty, the consensus No. 1 running back prospect in the class."
In order for Dallas to make their way into the top 10, assuming they do land in the middle of the first round, they will likely have to give up their own first round pick along with a few others.
Jeanty has been legitimately insane during the 2024 college football season. Through eight games, the Junior from Jacksonville, Florida, has notched 190 carries for 1,525 yards (8.0 yards per carry) and 20 touchdowns.
Jeanty hasn't necessarily done much in the passing game this season, but he has proven himself as a dual-threat running back from his output in 2023, securing 43 catches for 569 yards and five touchdowns.
Jeanty and the Broncos still have four more regular season games remaining. So, barring injury, he should exceed the 2,000-yard mark (he's on pace for 2,287 rushing yards). And that does not include the Mountain West Conference Championship Game or the College Football Playoff, which is a very real possibility for Boise State as it aims to secure the lone Group of Five bid.
Coincidentally, Luke Easterling, also of Athlon Sports, does not think the Cowboys would have to make any move in order to land Jeanty. In his most recent first-round mock draft, Easterling has Jeanty falling to Dallas at No. 16 overall.
If Jeanty were to end up in Arlington, TX, he would be an instant upgrade for a very poor running game. Mix him in with Prescott and wide receiver CeeDee Lamb, and the Cowboys would have themselves a new three-headed monster.
