Cowboys' surprise RB plans revealed by NFL insider

Dallas Cowboys fans want to know what their answer is at running back.

They've made plenty of dart throws this offseason. Javonte Williams from the Broncos. Miles Sanders from the Eagles. Jaydon Blue (Texas) and Phil Mafah (Clemson) in the NFL Draft.

But is any of them good enough to replicate Rico Dowdle's 1000-yard season? For that matter, why did the Cowboys let Dowdle walk?

ESPN insider Dan Graziano addressed those questions in a new article out Wednesday morning.

It starts with money, of course.

"The answer to the question really has to do with Dallas' current position on running back value relative to other positions on the roster," Graziano writes. "The Cowboys are paying Dak Prescott more than any other quarterback in the NFL. CeeDee Lamb makes more than all but two other wide receivers. And Dallas is probably about to pay edge rusher Micah Parsons more than any other defensive player. The front office has to find ways to cut salary cap costs."

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The Cowboys have been linked to Nick Chubb and J.K. Dobbins still out there in free agency, but Graziano doesn't think so.

Dallas has already made its moves, he writes.

"Especially for the prices they paid, the Cowboys believe these are exactly the kinds of chances they should be taking at the position, and that one of Williams, Sanders, Blue and Mafah will emerge the way Dowdle did last season," Graziano wrote. "So I wouldn't necessarily get my hopes up about the possibility of Dallas signing Nick Chubb or J.K. Dobbins. Never say never, but in talking to sources familiar with this situation, I don't get the sense that the Cowboys are desperate to add to their RB group."

The Cowboys have plenty of options.

Only one of them needs to work out for them to be in great shape.

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