With free agency starting Tuesday, it is time to break down the Dallas Cowboys' needs and wants. Teams can start talking with players on Saturday.
Running back
What they have: Joseph Randle ($585,000 base salary), Ryan Williams ($585,000).
The position: Running back is a huge need, especially with DeMarco Murray set to hit the market in a matter of days. It would be stunning if the Cowboys and the reigning NFL Offensive Player of the Year strike a deal at this point.
Randle showed some real ability last year and there are those at Valley Ranch who believe he is a 1,000-yard rusher. But then his off-field problems must be factored in and there’s a question as to whether he will be with the team going forward depending on how his legal troubles in Wichita, Kansas, play out. Williams spent the year on the practice squad and the Cowboys rewarded him with a $240,000 signing bonus after he chose to pass on other offers to sign with other teams last season.
But he is hardly a proven runner, and he has injury worries as well.
Lance Dunbar could be nontendered as a restricted free agent, and fullback Tyler Clutts is also set to be an unrestricted free agent.
While many believe in the premise that running backs can be found anywhere and everywhere, the Cowboys quite literally might have to do that with only two of them on their roster at this point.
Best available: Murray. There are some quality runners available in free agency, but none of them match up to Murray. You don't run for 1,845 yards on accident. Now, can you expect a repeat of that season? No, and it's not fair to do so.
Best Cowboys fit: Murray. That the Cowboys have let it get to this point is surprising. If they really wanted to keep Murray, they would have done so by now. Murray provides the best fit for the scheme, for the offense and for the locker room. If he doesn’t return, then Mark Ingram would be the next best fit. Jason Garrett was a huge fan of his when he entered the league, and he just spent a week coaching him at the Pro Bowl.
What they will do: If they don’t re-sign Murray, then the Cowboys can play the rest of the market going through guys like C.J. Spiller, Ingram or Ryan Mathews all the while knowing the draft is deep with runners this spring and they can get to the third or fourth round and find a guy to plug in and play. Will it be the same production as Murray? Will he have the same impact statistically and emotionally? Doubtful.
