First-year Cowboys’ head coach Brian Schottenheimer has emphasized he wants to win in the trenches.
Jerry Jones, the Cowboys’ owner and general manager, has invested multiple premier picks into the offensive line to achieve that mission.
But who will tote the ball in front of this supposedly formidable front?
Dallas has five running backs currently signed: Javonte Williams, Miles Sanders, Jaydon Blue, Phil Mafah, and Deuce Vaughn.
No candidate for the starting job significantly stands out from the rest and it’s likely the Cowboys will cut one or two players from the group before the season.
Anything is on the table.
Dallas Cowboys could cut Javonte Williams in favor of rookie Jaydon Blue
Williams, who spent his first four years with the Broncos, signed with the Cowboys in the offseason on a 1-year, $3 million deal.
He suffered an ACL tear in 2022 which forced him to miss the remainder of the season. Once he returned, his yards per carry and overall performance decreased to the point he was sharing the Denver backfield with a variety of unproven runners.
If Williams continues to show signs of decline in training camp, Dallas could choose to cut him before the season begins.
Kristopher Knox of Bleacher Report suggested that outcome in a piece about the best players who can be cut from each team.
“Cutting Williams, who averaged just 3.7 yards per carry with the Broncos last season, would save Dallas $2 million in cap space,” Knox wrote.
It would be a small amount of cap space, but could be worth it the Cowboys other rushers are seeing more success.
Rookie running back Jaydon Blue was drafted this year in the fifth round out of the University of Texas. He could be a prime candidate to take the starting job and force this move from the front office.
Blue ran a 4.25 40-yard dash at his pro day. He has the blitzing speed it would take to explode through holes made by a talented offensive line.
Rookie Profile: Jaydon Blue🔵
~ 21 Years Old
~ 5’9” 200
~ 4.38 40 Yard Dash
~ Cowboys (Rnd 5: Pick 149)College Stats: Texas🟠
2024:
~ 134 Carry’s, 730 Yards, 8 TD, 42 REC, 368 Yards, 6 TD💥💥
Jaydon Blue has gained a lot of traction in the draft process and ends up on the… pic.twitter.com/sLaOTJc50s
— TheFantasyFormula (@AFantasyFormula) May 18, 2025
The flip side of the coin is that the position is so wide open Williams could take the starting job if he excels. He has the experience to work well with Dak Prescott as a pass protector.
But anything is possible with this Cowboys’ backfield.
MORE: Meet Jaydon Blue, Cowboys’ new RB with 4.2 40-yard dash speed
