Cowboys predicted to land superstar running back in blockbuster trade with Saints image
It’s NFL Draft week, and the Dallas Cowboys are one of the most fascinating teams to follow.
Currently holding the 12th pick of the first round, the Cowboys just need more offense. Beyond quarterback Dak Prescott and number-one wide receiver CeeDee Lamb, Dallas has few players it can look to for consistent yardage.
After punting on the running back position in 2024 and losing starter Rico Dowdle in free agency, it would be easy to envision the Cowboys picking Boise State’s Ashton Jeanty, the consensus top rusher in this year’s draft class.
But will the Cowboys be able to wait until their pick rolls around to take their shot at Jeanty? One NFL analyst doesn’t believe so.
On Monday, Athlon’s Luke Easterling predicted that the Cowboys would trade up to the ninth pick with the New Orleans Saints to secure the rights to Jeanty, the runner-up in the voting for the 2024 Heisman Trophy.
“If Jeanty is still on the board at this point, it wouldn’t be surprising for a team like Dallas to make a short move up the board to grab him,” Easterling wrote.
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“Sending a third-rounder to the Saints to jump ahead of Chicago, the Cowboys instantly transform their lackluster ground game with a three-down playmaker with superstar potential.”
Jeanty, 21, rushed for 2,601 yards for the Broncos this past season, only 28 yards shy of the all-time NCAA single-season record. He also totaled 29 rushing touchdowns (30 total) and was the toughest player to bring down in all of college football.
It’s a gamble to give up a future pick of any kind for the rights to Jeanty, but if he turns into a top-five rusher in the league, the Cowboys wouldn’t regret it in the slightest.