The Dallas Cowboys made headlines this offseason with big-name acquisitions, but one NFL analyst isn’t buying what they’re selling. Seth Walder pulled no punches when evaluating Dallas’s backfield moves, calling their running back situation “uninspiring.”
While the Cowboys grabbed attention with flashy trades, their ground game decisions might be the real story heading into 2025.
Why Did the Cowboys Make Such Questionable Backfield Moves?
The offseason started with significant changes in Dallas. After head coach Mike McCarthy’s contract expired, the Cowboys decided not to keep him, and they lost in the playoffs once more.
Dallas quickly elevated offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer rather than broadening its search. Some thought the decision was rushed, and it marked the beginning of an unusual offseason approach.
On the surface, the Cowboys made a big splash when they acquired Pittsburgh wide receiver George Pickens, a talented but occasionally divisive playmaker. The front office is clearly trying to give Dak Prescott more weapons, and pairing Pickens with CeeDee Lamb has explosive potential.
However, Walder is concerned because the changes in the running back room went largely unnoticed while everyone focused on that eye-catching trade.
I evaluated and graded the decision-making of all 32 NFL teams this offseason, from the Rams (A) to the Saints (D)! https://t.co/P1W4SBeKYb
— Seth Walder (@SethWalder) July 10, 2025
“Dallas’ running back situation is uninspiring,” Walder said in a breakdown of the team’s offseason moves. “Dowdle left for Carolina for under $3 million despite a very good 2024 season.
In his stead, the Cowboys brought in Williams (who had minus-84 rush yards over expectation in 2024, per NFL Next Gen Stats) and Sanders (minus-44). Dallas also drafted Jaydon Blue in Round 5.”
Will Letting Rico Dowdle Walk Expose Dallas in 2025?
There were serious concerns about letting Rico Dowdle walk after what was probably his best season, especially on such a cheap contract. Dowdle knew the offense and was both efficient and effective. Replacing him with two veterans who just finished statistically poor seasons seems more like a gamble than a strategy.
Despite their recognizable names, both Williams and Sanders struggled to produce more yards than their offensive lines provided them in 2024. Regarding running backs, recent performance matters more than past reputation.
Meanwhile, rookie Jaydon Blue adds youth to the mix, but given his fifth-round draft status and unclear path to significant carries, it’s hard to see how this backfield becomes a strength in 2025. The Cowboys are banking on veterans bouncing back and a late-round pick making an immediate impact.
There isn’t much margin for error in a season when Dallas is trying to move forward and finally break through the postseason barrier that has frustrated them for over thirty years. Trading a productive, affordable runner like Dowdle for two underperforming veterans represents a questionable decision. Only time will tell if it was the right move.
