Cowboys Urged to Pursue Former Arch Rival, $48 Million Running Back

The NFL doesn't place much of a premium on running backs these days, but when you're struggling to run the football at all -- like the Dallas Cowboys have through three games this season -- the math on the position changes.

Dallas is 30th in the league in rushing with 221 yards as a team, which doesn't sound as bad when contextualized by the fact that the offense has called fewer runs ( 62 ) than all but two teams in the NFL.

However, the Cowboys are averaging just 3.6 yards per rush attempt , which is tied for 29th in the league. And the only reason they aren't running more is because firstly, they're bad at it, and secondly, they've been so far behind the New Orleans Saints and Baltimore Ravens the last two weeks that deficits have forced the offense into pass-heavy schemes.

Dallas has to get better at running the football and keeping opposing offenses off of the field, and one way to do that is to pursue a talented running back.

And while he couldn't possibly help them until next year, the NFL Scouting Department at Bleacher Report on Monday, September 23, looked to the Cowboys' future and suggested they go after Texas native and current Minnesota Vikings starter Aaron Jones in free agency 2025.

" Ezekiel Elliott's and Rico Dowdle's contracts are set to expire at the end of the season, leaving Dallas with a need for running backs. Even if one of them gets retained, the offense could still use a dynamic option out of the backfield," B/R wrote . "Jones could be that option seeing as he has roughly 280 catches for about 2,100 receiving yards in his career. While the 29-year-old, who turns 30 in December, won't have a long tenure with the club, that will also help keep his price tag down, especially if it means playing for a potential Super Bowl contender."

Jones is making $7 million with the Vikings this year after signing a $48 million extension with the Green Bay Packers in 2021.

Jones, who has said the Cowboys were his favorite team growing up, torched Dallas in Green Bay's playoff victory at AT&T Stadium in January. He tallied 118 rushing yards and 3 TDs on the ground, as well as 1 catch for 13 yards, in the Packers' 16-point victory.