The Dallas Cowboys always have some of the most fascinating storylines in the NFL, but heading into 2024, it’s almost impossible to predict what Jerry Jones and company have planned.
If you listen to Jones, he’s sticking by his statement that Dallas is going “all in” for 2024 with the goal to finally get over the playoff hump and secure another Lombardi Trophy.
That logic made sense following the Cowboys’ early exit from the playoffs. They had a team loaded with talent on both sides of the ball and their franchise QB Dak Prescott, was leading the MVP conversation for most of the year and finished 2023 with one of his best statistical seasons as a pro. The Dallas Cowboys were undefeated at home and entered the playoffs as a No. 2 seed.
But as anyone with a pulse has come to expect, Dallas choked in the first round of the playoffs, falling to a young Green Bay Packers team who barely snuck into the postseason.
There were questions whether Jerry Jones would make significant moves after the loss, but he didn’t. He retained head coach Mike McCarthy for 2024 and made it clear Prescott was the team’s QB moving forward.
Almost every NFL Insider predicted the Dallas Cowboys would give Prescott a contract extension to free up cap space and add new talent in free agency — but instead — Jones hasn’t done a thing and is letting Dak Prescott play out the final year of his contract.
The team has lost several coaches including defensive coordinator Dan Quinn, who took several assistants with him to the Cowboys’ rival, Washington, when he accepted the head coaching job there.
Beyond coaches, Dallas is expected to replace some of its top playmakers on both sides of the ball. One of the most glaring need is a running back to fill the void left by Tony Pollard who signed with the Tennessee Titans.
NFL writer Christopher Kline for FanSided has just the solution.
Dallas Cowboys Projected To Trade For 2-Time Champion RB Najee Harris
In the proposed trade put together by Kline, the Cowboys would acquire Pittsburgh Steelers running back Najee Harris and a 2025 sixth-round pick in exchange for a 2025 fourth-round pick.
The idea of trade is simple — the Cowboys don’t have a starting running back currently on its roster. After allowing former starter Tony Pollard to walk in free agency, Dallas has a major void to fill. Acquiring Harris — a three-year starter with a Pro Bowl on his resume — would solve that issue.
“As for Dallas, any semblance of established talent would be nice,” writes Kline. “Dowdle has been fine in a change-of-pace role over the last few years, but he is hardly RB1 material. Deuce Vaughn is a fan favorite, but burdening him with extended reps could be a recipe for disaster.”
Why is Najee Harris the perfect solution for the Dallas Cowboys?
He has started all 51 possible games during his three-year career, ranking among the most durable backs in the NFL. In fact, Harris ranks second among all running backs in carries since entering the league in 2021. To top it all off, Harris was actually a two-time national champion running back at the University of Alabama.
While his efficiency hasn’t been amazing — he averaged under 4.0 yards per carry during his first two seasons — he has proven he won’t get injured and can handle the workload. Furthermore, he’s proven capable of not only leading a rushing attack, but by being effective in a committee system. Backup Jaylen Warren averaged 5.3 yards per carry as a complementary back.
The Dallas Cowboys may not have a starting back currently on its roster, but they have a number of players — Rico Dowdle, Malik Davis or Deuce Vaughn — capable of playing that complementary role. Harris is the perfect workhorse back while the younger runners can compliment his game.
