To the frustration of many fans, the Dallas Cowboys waited until Day 3 of the NFL Draft to find much-needed running back depth.
In the fifth round, Dallas drafted the versatile Texas running back Jaydon Blue. Later on in Round 7, the organization double-dipped at the position with Clemson’s Phil Mafah and his powerful run style that contradicts Blue’s electrifying speed.
That now sets up a four-man competition for the summer between the two rookies and the two free agent signings Javonte Williams and Miles Sanders.
The Blue pick has been well received by Cowboys Nation once it was made. It took until pick No. 149, but could have been sooner if Dallas traded into the fourth round to take him like they intended. Thankfully he was still available in the fifth.
According to the Cowboys’ rankings going into the Draft, the scouting team believed Blue was up there with the top prospects in the running back class.
Nick Harris of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram says there were multiple coaches who said Blue falls only behind Boise State’s Ashton Jeanty and North Carolina’s Omarion Hampton as the best ball carriers available.
Third-best? That’s shocking …. But Dallas will take it.
Getting who they thought was the third best player at his position in the fifth round is as much a steal as the Cowboys could hope for. Frankly, they were lucky teams slept on Blue and kept him available until the fifth.
Despite his late selection – and how many sites tell you Dallas will roll out a running-back-by-committee scheme – don’t sleep on Blue’s potential to impact the backfield in 2025.
Going into training camp, many inside The Star believe he could turn out to be a starter for first-year head coach Brian Schottenheimer.
Schotty thrives with a versatile running back, and Blue may step in as the Cowboys’ best running back pass catcher on Day 1. He racked up over 500 yards through the air over his last two seasons with the Longhorns.
No doubt, Blue will have to clean up his ball handling and physicality, but there is a lot to be excited about in Dallas’ “slept-on” stud. His blazing 4.38 40-speed is one thing to raise your eyebrows.
Now at minicamp this weekend, it is up to Blue to live up to his praise and be one of the best rookie running backs in the NFL like the Cowboys believe he is.
