Report: Cowboys have RB contingency options should trio falter

Heading into the offseason, running back was arguably the Dallas Cowboys’ biggest need.

Aside from bringing back a past-his-prime Ezekiel Elliott, Dallas did little to address the position following the departure of Tony Pollard, who signed a three-year, $21.75 million deal with the Tennessee Titans.

However, based on a report from ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, the Cowboys seeming indifference toward upgrading their stable of running backs could be because they have a “short list” of external candidates they plan to target if their trio of runners disappoint during training camp and the preseason.

“They will monitor the Ezekiel Elliott-Rico Dowdle-Royce Freeman experience, while keeping a short list of external options, just in case,” Fowler wrote. “Carolina's Miles Sanders is on that list. And Dalvin Cook has shown interest in playing for Dallas.”

Both Sanders and Cook had disappointing seasons last year.

Sanders rushed for just 432 yards and one touchdown the year after his breakout 1,269-yard, 11-touchdown season with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2022.

The 27-year-old lost his starting job with the Carolina Panthers to Chuba Hubbard, and after the team drafted Texas star Jonathon Brooks in the second round in April, Sanders could very well be the third-best option on his own team.

Cook was one of the prized free agents last offseason, but he remains unsigned this year after flaming out with the New York Jets.

Cook, 28, had the worst season of his career in New York, rushing for just 214 yards on 67 carries before being released toward the end of the season. Like Sanders, Cook lost his starting job to Breece Hall and he could hold out for a starting opportunity with a team like the Cowboys.