The Dallas Cowboys are primed to take a running back in Round 1 with current starter Rico Dowdle set to hit free agency. If they do decide to bolster the backfield, likely two intriguing options are waiting for them.
Dowdle wasn’t too shabby in his first year carrying the load, rushing for 1,079 yards on 235 carries for 4.6 yards per carry. He only had two touchdowns which reinforced the notion that he is more of a change-of-pace back than a feature one.
The Cowboys own the No. 12 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. That means Dallas could have its choice of players, including the two best running backs on the big board.
Cowboys Predicted to Draft North Carolina RB Omarion Hampton
Omarion Hampton has been compared to David Montgomery for his imposing physical size (6-foot, 220 pounds) and slashing running style in the open field. He’s also a terror inside the red zone, especially in short-yardage situations.
Hampton rushed for 3,565 yards on 622 carries in 38 games at North Carolina, with 40 total touchdowns and 36 of those scores coming on the ground. He would be the perfect fit in a revamped Cowboys’ offensive scheme under new head coach Brian Schottenheimer who portends to employ a run-heavy attack looking at his family history.
ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. has Hampton going to Dallas in his pre-combine mock draft. In it, the draft guru cites insider talks he’s had with personnel people who see Hampton as the preferred option over Doak Walker Award winner Ashton Jeanty.
“I’ve talked to people in the NFL who have Jeanty and Hampton neck and neck for RB1, and there are even some who prefer Hampton,” said Kiper Jr. “And I look at Dallas’ decision to hire Brian Schottenheimer as coach and can’t help but think about his father, Marty, and all those run-heavy offenses he had over 21 seasons in the same job for four different teams. One would think some of that will rub off on the Cowboys’ new coach, even with Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb in the offense.
“But to jump-start the run game, the Cowboys actually need a legit running back. Rico Dowdle was decent (1,079 yards), but he’s a free agent and Dallas will likely want to upgrade. Plus, this team has been known to use early picks at the position in the past, including drafting Ezekiel Elliott at No. 4 in 2016. Hampton is a home-run hitter who had 1,660 yards and 15 rushing TDs in 2024.”
“You are going to start hearing a lot more about Omarion Hampton. He’s going to be at the Combine around 225, he’s going to run in the mid 4.4s and he’s going to have about 6% body
fat” – Daniel Jeremiah— Dave Heilman NFL (@DynastyDorks) February 22, 2025
Ashton Jeanty Heads to Dallas in PFSN Mock Draft
Jeanty was undoubtedly the most prolific running back in college football last season so it may be hard for any team to pass on him. Pro Football Sports Network’s Owain Jones puts the country’s top rusher in a Cowboys’ uniform in his latest mock draft.
The Boise State phenom goes off the board in Round 1 at pick No. 12. The Cowboys finally get a long-term answer at a position of need for a franchise still struggling to replace Ezekiel Elliott and Tony Pollard.
Jones wrote: “We have all seen this selection multiple times, but there is a reason analysts keep returning to it.
“Ashton Jeanty is a premier prospect with some of the best contact balance of any player in recent drafts. The elite Boise State Broncos running back had 157 forced missed tackles in 2024 when he rushed for 2,601 yards, the second most in FBS history, totaling more rushing yards than 100+ teams.”
“Combine or no combine, [Ashton Jeanty] is one of the best players in this class.” @nfldraftscout compares Ashton Jeanty to Alvin Kamara 👀 pic.twitter.com/0G0vR5uReA
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) February 25, 2025
Jeanty racked up an insane 4,769 yards with 50 rushing touchdowns over a three-year college career at Boise State. He also caught 80 balls for 862 yards and eight touchdowns in 40 games.