CBS Sports: It is suggested that the Cowboys sign “The Next Saquon Barkley.”
We already know that Brian Schottenheimer, the offensive play-caller and head coach of the Dallas Cowboys, intends to run the ball in 2025. When Rico Dowdle was given the reins, he thrived, topping 1,000 rushing yards after seeing him toil away for six months as a running back by committee. During his tenure as offensive coordinator (2018, 19, and 20), Schottenheimer led the Seattle Seahawks to a top-10 scoring ranking, second in run attempts and first in yards in 2018, third in attempts and fourth in yards in 2019, and fourth in yards in 2020 before a decline in 2020.
Schotty’s preference for running the ball and then depending on the play-action game is evident. This leads us to Dallas’ No. 12 pick in the draft. Boise State standout Ashton Jeanty is joining the Cowboys, according to NFL.com, despite the fact that there are a lot of choices and gaps that need to be filled. “After watching the ground game flounder without an elite running back in the backfield, Jerry Jones adds a bona fide star in Jeanty to spark an offensive resurgence,” says NFL.com.
Saquon Barkley and Derrick Henry have had a significant influence on their teams, as we have seen, and the Cowboys, who have had a bad season rushing the football, may turn to Jeanty to inject some much-needed energy into their run game. “The Next Saquon”—is Jeanty? Of course, there are additional requirements, like a defensive lineman, a receiver to counter CeeDee Lamb, and everything else you can think of.
However, given Schottenheimer’s desire to run the ball, Jeanty may be selected in the first round; if not, Omarion Hampton of North Carolina or Cameron Skattebo of Arizona State might be selected later. One thing is certain, though: the Cowboys want to be a much better football club in 2025, and the draft may play a significant role in achieving that goal.
