7 Running Back Options the Cowboys Should Consider at the NFL Trade Deadline

It’s no secret that the Dallas Cowboys struggle in the running game. They can try to spin the ball the way they want, but the fact remains that after seven games, the Cowboys are dead last with 519 yards on the ground.

With the NFL trade deadline on Tuesday, November 5th, there is still time to try to rectify this situation. At first, Jerry Jones spoke as if he had no intention of taking any action. As the deadline approached, his tone changed slightly.

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Anyone who’s followed Jones knows his words mean little, so there’s still a good chance they’ll do nothing and then blame the lame duck coach. But if the Jones family really cared about winning rather than making money, they could have added one of these seven runners.

The Miami Dolphins have a strong running back that is led by De’Von Achane with 357 yards. Behind him is Jaylen Wright, a freshman from Tennessee who is averaging 5.3 yards per attempt and 190 yards on the season. Oh, and they have Raheem Mostert, who led the league with 18 touchdowns last season.

Buried at fourth on the depth chart is Jeff Wilson Jr. The veteran quarterback followed head coach Mike McDaniel from San Francisco and played well in 2022, gaining 392 yards and three touchdowns in eight games. As a career backup, Wilson averaged 4.5 yards per attempt but was never given a lead role. In Dallas, he would easily be their top pick and wouldn’t cost much money to acquire.

There was a time when Miles Sanders was one of the best running backs in the NFL. The Penn State product rushed for 1,269 yards and 11 touchdowns with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2022. He then signed with the Carolina Panthers last year but was a huge disappointment.

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Sanders gained 432 yards in his first season with Carolina and 139 in 2024. He’s averaging 4.1 yards per attempt, which will be a boost for the struggling Cowboys. He might even perform better with a change of scenery.

Throughout the offseason, Khalil Herbert has been linked to the Cowboys as a potential trade candidate. The Chicago Bears signed D’Andre Swift in free agency and already had Roshon Johnson, who played well as a rookie, in 2023.

Swift has handled the workload on his own this season, while Herbert has scored just eight tries in six matches. He may not be an all-around defender, but he has averaged 4.8 points per attempt in his career and provided a much-needed boost to the run game.

Dallas was mocked mercilessly for not landing Zack Moss. The veteran running back signed a two-year, $8 million deal. This was very high considering his career success, and it turned out to be true. In eight games, Moss averaged 3.3 yards per attempt and lost to Chase Brown.

The junior back has 4.6 yards per carry and is much more trusted than Moss. This could mean the Bengals are willing to make a move. The Cowboys liked Moss this offseason, and perhaps bringing him to Dallas could help him recapture the form we saw in 2023.

Another guard who has been linked to Dallas throughout the offseason is Dameon Pierce. When Joe Mixon signed with the Houston Texans, Pierce would no longer be the starter. He was injured early in the year but then appeared to be safe in a big game against New England, resulting in Cam Akers being traded to Minnesota.

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However, Pierce has barely touched the ball since then. He has 14 attempts in four games, eight of which came against New England. He’s currently getting fewer touches than Dare Ogunbowale and JJ Taylor.

That could open the door for Dallas to return money to the rookie, who has 939 rushing yards in 2022.

Travis Etienne Jr., taken 25th overall in 2021, had over 1,000 yards from scrimmage in his first two seasons in the league. He trails Tank Bigsby this year and has 230 yards in six games, compared to Bigbsy’s 493.

Jacksonville is also 2-6 this season and could be ready to stockpile picks. Perhaps this could work in Jerry Jones’ favor.

He and Stephen Jones said the “right deal” would force them to make the move. Adding a defensive back with excellent speed who is also a good receiver could very well be that deal.

If Jeff Wilson isn’t Miami’s preferred cornerback, the Cowboys could add Raheem Mostert.

A journeyman veteran, Mostert has dealt with injuries throughout his career but has always found success when healthy. 2023 is a perfect example, as he gained 1,012 yards and 18 touchdowns in 15 games.

Mostert is 32 years old, but he proved last year that he can still play. That’s why a one-year lease would make sense for Dallas.

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