Hiring a coach is currently the top item on the Cowboys’ offseason to-do list. The Cowboys fired Mike McCarthy last week and have begun interviewing potential replacements, with Eagles offensive coordinator Kellen Moore already having been electronically interviewed and former Jets head coach Robert Saleh having an in-person interview on Saturday.
However, whoever becomes the next coach is unlikely to be successful until major deals occur. The Cowboys are in desperate need of playmakers and must fill those positions through the draft or free agency.
Of course, they needed to accomplish that last year as well, but failed to do so, which is why the 2024 season is off to such a difficult start. Thus, Cowboys fans may be hesitant to believe that owner Jerry Jones will be inventive and spend money to repair the team’s flaws.
But if they do, bringing in a running back to assist incumbent Rico Dowdle (who also needs a new contract) should be reasonably easy.
Cowboys trade for Travis Etienne solves the RB problem.
In fact, Bleacher Report predicts that Dallas will make a huge trade to improve the running game, bringing in Jaguars 2021 first-round pick Travis Etienne, who appeared to fall out of favor in Jacksonville after two 1,000-yard seasons to start his career.
B/R stated that the Cowboys flubbed the running back position last year: “A year later, the Cowboys can correct that blunder by returning to a run-heavy or balanced offense with a trade for Jacksonville Jaguars running back Travis Etienne Jr.
“This previous season, Etienne and Tank Bigsby had nearly equal touches (189 to 175). With Etienne entering his contract year, the Jaguars may be willing to sell him and move forward with Bigsby as their primary ball carrier. Etienne’s contract includes a $6.1 million cap hit. The Cowboys should not have to pay a significant premium for the last year of his deal, especially because he is still in his prime at the age of 25.
WR depth can be addressed in the draft.
Of course, Etienne will want a new contract, but he is unlikely to be able to negotiate one. Given his early success, Spotrac believes he’s worth a four-year, $33 million contract. Even if the Cowboys do not want to go to that far to keep Etienne, bringing him into the fold might be a significant benefit in 2025.
Making a move for a running back, whether through trade or free agency, would also allow the Cowboys to use the NFL draft to address the team’s lack of receiver depth behind standout CeeDee Lamb.
Picking No. 12 in April would put the Cowboys in position to sign future stars like as Luther Burden of Missouri and Emeka Egbuka of Ohio State. While Boise State star Ashton Jeanty is the favorite to be selected by Dallas, the truth is that finding a suitable running back on the market is far easier than finding a receiver.
Trading for Etienne and drafting, say, Burden would check off some major items on the Cowboys’ checklist.