Will the Cowboys draft running back Ashton Jeanty?

A few weeks ago, the Dallas Cowboys were looking at a potential top five pick in the draft. After two wins in a row, they’re now at 5-7 and would pick 13th if the season ended now. Looking at the rest of their schedule, it’s likely Dallas will land somewhere between the 10th and 20th pick. So depending on where they land, that will obviously determine who they can pick.

But for argument’s sake, let’s say that Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty is still available by the time the Cowboys are up. Do they pick him?

Cowboys and Ashton Jeanty makes too much sense

The Cowboys 100% should pick Jeanty if he’s available to them. Jeanty is a Heisman Trophy candidate and has put up 2,062 yards and 27 touchdowns in 11 games this season. He is from Frisco, has said he’d be happy to join the Cowboys, and he fills a huge need for Dallas.

Yes, Rico Dowdle has finally emerged as the Cowboys' RB1, with his last two weeks of 86 and 112 rushing yards being his best of the season, but his future is uncertain. He’s only on a one-year contract, up after this season. Even if they do extend Dowdle though, the Cowboys should still take Jeanty and have more depth and more star power at the position. They are currently averaging 82.5 rushing yards per game. That is not good enough and they need all the help they can get.

But the Cowboys have needed a running back for the last two years and they didn’t pick one in the first five rounds of the draft either of those years. In fact, they have not picked a running back with a top-200 pick since Tony Pollard in 2019.

The Cowboys' biggest needs heading into next season are running back, defensive tackle, and offensive lineman. Perhaps then another defensive end.

If not Jeanty, then whom?

It is possible that they consider Jeanty of course, but considering their history, I find it unlikely. The Athletic’s NFL Draft expert Dane Brugler has them taking a wide receiver at No. 13 in his latest mock draft and Athon Sports analyst Luke Easterling has them taking a defensive tackle at No. 9.

Wideout: Luther Burden III, Missouri

Both options have their issues. Let’s start with the obvious - wide receiver. Brugler has Dallas taking Missouri’s Luther Burden III, who recently announced he’d be skipping his senior year and entering the 2025 Draft. The 5′11, 205-pound receiver had a standout season last year with 86 passes for 1,212 yards and nine touchdowns in 13 games, but those numbers dropped this year as he dealt with a shoulder injury, finishing with just 61 receptions for 676 yards and six touchdowns in 12 games.

With CeeDee Lamb as the WR1, the Cowboys have Brandin Cooks behind him. Cooks is set to be an unrestricted free agent after this season, leaving the WR2 position open. So this pick will likely depend on if the Cowboys coaching staff sees that spot filled by one of the receivers they have now - Jalen Tolbert, KaVontae Turpin, Jalen Brooks, Ryan Flournoy, or Jonathan Mingo, who they traded a fourth-round pick for - or Burden.

Defensive Tackle: Mason Graham, Michigan

Easterling has the Cowboys taking Michigan’s defensive tackle Mason Graham at No. 9. You may spot the issue there. The truth is, the Cowboys do need help at DT. Their top DT Osa Odighizuwa, will be an unrestricted free agent after the season. And Mazi Smith, Dallas' first-round pick in the 2023 Draft, has not been playing up to expectations, despite improvement from last season. The problem is that Graham happens to play for Michigan, the same school as Smith and Taco Charlton (whom they chose over T.J. Watt) - two players who did not prove to be worth the return on investment.

It’s a little unfair for Graham, who hasn’t done anything wrong, but we can’t blame Cowboys fans for being weary there.

Cowboys' other potential needs

The Cowboys will also need to think about edge rushers, as behind star Micah Parsons, they’ve got DeMarcus Lawrence, who will be a free agent after this season, Marshawn Kneeland and Sam Williams, who haveboth been battling injuries this season, and Carl Lawson and Chauncey Golston, who will be unrestricted free agents after this season.

They’ll definitely want to consider the guard position as well, as their nine-time Pro Bowler Zack Martin is potentially playing his last season in Dallas.

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