If we’re going to use one word to sum up what the offseason has been for the Dallas Cowboys, the first thing that comes to mind is “distraction” — as in a myriad of things taking away from the principal focus of winning football games.
There was a Netflix documentary. There was a new head coach. There was a trade for a troubled star from another team. There was an unending string of headlines about the bitter contract negotiations between owner Jerry Jones and superstar edge rusher Micah Parsons.
Distractions. So many of them.
Those distractions may have been what pulled the focus away from winning and away from building a contender — a process which should have included bringing in an elite running back.
It’s something the Cowboys should have done before the 2024 season, when Derrick Henry and Saquon Barkley were both available and presumably willing.
Still, there are moves that could be made. Bleacher Report’s Moe Moton pitched a trade that would bring the Cowboys a player who could be on the cusp of stardom with New York Jets running back Breece Hall in exchange for wide receiver Jalen Tolbert and a 2026 fourth round pick.
It’s a move that could change the offense.
” … The Jets have a three-man backfield with Hall, Braelon Allen and Isaiah Davis pushing for touches,” Moton wrote on August 28. “When you consider quarterback Justin Fields’ ability as a ball-carrier, Gang Green can afford to trade Hall for draft capital, especially if the team doesn’t expect to retain him in free agency next offseason.”
Hall Still Might Have Superstar Potential
Hall has quietly been one of the NFL’s better running backs since the Jets selected the 2-time Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year from Iowa State in the second round (No. 36 overall) of the 2022 NFL draft.
The Jets are 19-32 over the last 3 seasons, haven’t had a winning season since 2015 and haven’t made the playoffs since 2010 — the longest postseason drought of any team in the 4 major North American professional sports leagues.
Hall had 681 yards of total offense and 5 touchdowns in just 7 games as a rookie in 2022 before he tore his ACL in Week 7 against the Broncos. He returned in 2023 with 1,585 yards of total offense and 9 touchdowns, including 994 rushing yards and 591 receiving yards. In 2024, Hall had 1,359 yards of total offense and 8 touchdowns.
‘By Committee’ Approach for Cowboys in 2025
If you listen to the Cowboys tell it, the spin might be that they’ve done everything they could to make sure they have a competent backfield — a tactic Moton called “bargain bin shopping” for ballcarriers.
Here’s what you need to know: The Cowboys added 4 running backs this offseason. They signed 2 free agents in Javonte Williams and Miles Sanders and drafted 2 running backs in fifth round pick Jaydon Blue and seventh round pick Phil Mafah, who will start the season on injured reserve.
So, where do the bargains come in? The Cowboys will pay approximately $6.5 million in combined salary for all 4 running backs.
Just in the NFC East, the defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles will pay $18.81 million for 3 running backs, the New York Giants will pay approximately $8 million for 3 running backs and the Washington Commanders will pay approximately $7 million for 4 running backs.
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