We have heard so much about how deep this running back class is in the upcoming draft, and the Dallas Cowboys perhaps couldn’t have picked a better time to need a starting-caliber back.
There was some thought that at No. 12 the Cowboys could take a running back, but the closer we get, the more likely it seems that in the second or third rounds is where the franchise could look.
While the big names of Ashton Jeanty, Omarion Hampton, and TreVeyon Henderson catch the eye, there could be some good value in the later rounds, and for PFF’s Mason Cameron, his Day 3 pick for the Cowboys is Virginia Tech’s Bhayshul Tuten.
“Dallas invested in its running back room in free agency, signing Javonte Williams and Miles Sanders, but that shouldn’t disqualify the team from continuing to attack the position after ranking 31st in PFF rushing grade (60.7) last season,” Cameron writes. “Tuten, the fastest back in the class (4.32-second 40-yard dash time), profiles as an excellent change-of-pace runner in Brian Schottenheimer’s zone scheme (83.7 PFF grade), given his talent as a slasher.”
Having played just two college seasons, Tuten’s 2,022 yards, 25 touchdowns, and 5.7 yards per carry paint the picture of a production machine.
Plus, he’s a home-run threat on any play, boasting 4.32 speed that will no doubt scare defenses. According to NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein, fumbles and drops are thought to be a concern, but the manner in which Tuten can shift, wriggle his way out of traffic before hitting the gas, and then break away for a monster gain will keep defensive coordinators up at night.
Able to be a threat as a straight line runner or on endarounds, Tuten’s speed often gets him extra yards that others can’t. While there are areas of his game that need to be refined, there is potential for him to be a valuable three-down back once in the NFL system.
With the draft class deep at running back, the Cowboys could find Tuten in the later rounds and be more than content with him being a part of the rotation or starting in 2025.
