The Dallas Cowboys have acquired free agent running backs Javonte Williams and Miles Sanders after letting 1,000-yard rusher Rico Dowdle walk to the Carolina Panthers this offseason. This begs the question, should the Cowboys draft a rookie running back to start, or is their answer already in the building?

The old saying goes: new is always better. The flashy answer is for the Cowboys to draft the hottest name in the draft, and one linked to them is Ashton Jeanty from the Boise State Broncos. But the Cowboys went out and got another former Bronco, Javonte Williams from Denver.

Williams told reporters he’s excited to pair with Miles Sanders, being a fan of his since Sanders played for Penn State in college, and the sky’s the limit and they’re ready to ball out.

Javonte Williams enters his 5th season at 24 years old. Williams, as explained in my most recent article, has never had a thousand-yard season and has 5 fumbles to 11 career rushing touchdowns. It doesn’t help that he suffered a torn ACL, LCL, and PLC in the 2022 season and hasn’t been the same since after being a high 2nd-round selection.

As for Miles Sanders, most Cowboys fans know the former Panther during his time in Philadelphia. After a career year in 2022 with personal bests in carries (259), yards (1,269), and touchdowns (11), he was averaging 4.9 yards per carry. After signing the largest running back contract for the 2023 free agent class, Sanders’ numbers immediately dipped. Behind a worse offensive line, Sanders combined for 184 carries, 637 yards, and 3 touchdowns to 2 fumbles.

It’s safe to say Williams and Sanders both fell off significantly in the last two seasons and both have a chance at redemption in Dallas.

The Cowboys also took a chance on Ezekiel Elliott last season who had a slower season with the New England Patriots, rather than draft a running back in 2024. Passing on late-round running backs like Bucky Irving and Isaac Guerendo (4th round) and Tyrone Tracy Jr. (5th round), the Cowboys went the entire draft addressing other needs.

New head coach Brian Schottenheimer swears to commit to running the football and opening the play-action game for Dak Prescott in 2025. Mike McCarthy never emphasized the run game in Dallas, or Green Bay when he had prime Aaron Rodgers at the helm, so Schottenheimer wants to approach games differently. But to do this, you need the guy at running back.

There are three studs at running back in this class who the Cowboys could potentially get in the first three rounds. Ashton Jeanty, UNC’s Omarion Hampton, and Arizona State’s Cam Skattebo all stand out as options the Cowboys could have when their pick comes around. Cowboys fans understand there are other holes on this team to address, but the front office would rue the day if they passed up on any of these men with the Cowboys pressing need for a franchise-altering running back.

If Jeanty is off the board and Hampton is still there, I’m okay risking Hampton still being in the 2nd while you fill a need on defense or at wide receiver. If Hampton isn’t on the board in the 2nd round, the team would need to look hard at Skattebo. The position is that important.

The Cowboys could be surprised by Javonte Williams and Miles Sanders if one, maybe both, resurrects their career in Dallas. But the Cowboys shouldn’t pass on potential superstars for the sake of two, once, highly-regarded running backs who have been unproductive the last two seasons.