The Dallas Cowboys and Ashton Jeanty have become almost inseparable in discussions surrounding this year’s NFL Draft. On paper, it’s an ideal pairing.
New head coach Brian Schottenheimer is committed to establishing the run, and with Rico Dowdle set to hit free agency, the Cowboys could be looking for a dynamic backfield presence. After watching Saquon Barkley dominate this past season—and regretting their “running back by committee” approach midway through the year—the temptation to draft Jeanty may be too strong to resist.
Adding to the intrigue, Jeanty hails from Boise State, a program the Cowboys have shown plenty of interest in over the years.
However, selecting him as high as No. 12 overall might be a reach—at least in the eyes of most other NFL teams. According to The Athletic’s draft analyst Dane Brugler, Jeanty isn’t expected to go within the top 20 picks outside of a potential Cowboys selection.
“If the Cowboys don’t draft him at 12, it’s just hard to find a landing spot in the top 20 picks,” Brugler said on The Athletic Football Show. “So, I would lean towards Jeanty being talked about going later as opposed to earlier.”
Jeanty’s talent is unquestioned, especially after finishing as the Heisman Trophy runner-up to Colorado’s Travis Hunter. But he’s now the latest case study in the ongoing debate about running back value in the modern NFL.
“It’s a tough situation, similar to the one we saw with Bijan Robinson last year,” Brugler explained. “It was difficult to place him in mock drafts because there wasn’t a clear landing spot. The Cowboys make sense for Jeanty, but who else in the top 20 could you really justify taking him?”
This perspective sheds light on how NFL teams view the value of running backs but also serves as a cautionary note for the Cowboys. If they’re the only team in the top 20 seriously considering Jeanty, that raises an important question—why? It’s something the front office should reflect on before making a decision.
The debate over running back value isn’t about whether the position is important—of course it is. Having a great player makes a difference. The real question is about resource allocation. If the Cowboys use the 12th pick on a running back, what are they passing up? A tackle? A wide receiver? A high-impact defender? Which positions are harder to find later in the draft?
Around the league, teams have been hesitant to invest premium draft capital in running backs, instead opting to address other key positions. But exceptions exist—like Bijan Robinson, who went eighth overall to Atlanta. The challenge is determining who is truly worth making an exception for.
“I just don’t see a lot of landing spots for Jeanty,” Brugler reiterated. “Could a team like Denver or Washington trade up to get him? Sure, that’s possible. But just like how a deep tight end class might push those prospects down, the same could happen with running backs.”
If the Cowboys believe Jeanty is a game-changer, they could take the plunge. But if they can find a quality back later—or re-sign Dowdle—would they be better off using the 12th pick on a receiver, offensive lineman, or impact defender?
That’s the big question. And based on how most NFL teams have already answered it, the Cowboys will have to decide if they’re willing to go against the grain.
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