5 RBs who could be potential upgrades in Dallas if acquired via trade
Jerry Jones recently hinted the other day the Dallas Cowboys may not be done acquiring more talented via trade after adding defensive tackle Jordan Phillips to the roster.
Sounds like the Cowboys aren’t done trying to improve their defensive line. Jerry Jones on @1053thefan while talking about some of their recent defensive line additions: “Sometimes in the interior (defensive) line, you get a chance to do some things with other clubs right at the…
— Jon Machota (@jonmachota) August 18, 2024
While it sounds as if Jerry Jones may be talking more specifically about upgrading the defensive line, he does leave the door open that this won’t be the “final piece to the puzzle”.
One position we may want to keep an eye on is at running back. It’s been a mixed bag of results in the first two preseason games, even though they showed signs of life against the Raiders, but the Cowboys could stand to upgrade the position via trade.
Today, we are going to take a look at a handful a running backs the Dallas Cowboys could be monitoring closely the closer we get to teams making their final cuts to get under the league mandated 53-man roster limit.
Miles Sanders, Carolina Panthers
Miles Sanders is the only running back on this list to so far earned a second contract in the league. As such, he is also the most costly. To acquire him via trade, the Dallas Cowboys would not only have to be willing to part with draft capital, but also be willing to absorb his contract as well. That may or may not be a deal-breaker. If it’s not, he is someone who could come in and potentially push for the RB1 job or at the very least upgrade the depth.
Javonte Williams, Denver Broncos
Javonte Williams is still currently the RB1 with the Broncos and still has a bright future ahead of himself, but it doesn’t look as if it will be in Denver beyond 2024. He’s currently in the last year of his rookie deal and saw the team add a couple of new faces through the draft this year to potentially replace him. The 24-year-old could be just a one-year rental if Dallas can acquire him via trade, but his addition would be a significant upgrade to the roster this year.
Dameon Pierce, Houston Texans
Dameon Pierce’s NFL career with the Texans has been an up-and-down roller coaster ride. He looked like the future RB1 as a rookie, only to get bypassed last season by Daryl Singletary for the job. Entering Year 3, he will now be forced to watch Joe Mixon as the starter and accept whatever carries are left over. If acquired via trade by Dallas he’d have more of a legitimate shot at handling the majority of the work load with the Cowboys.
Isaiah Spiller, Los Angeles Chargers
After signing Gus Edwards and J.K. Dobbins via free agency as well as drafting Kimani Vidal in the sixth-round this year, Isaiah Spiller currently finds himself on the outside looking in with the Chargers. The fourth-round pick in 2022 has two years remaining on his current contract and also possesses the prototypical RB1 traits Dallas could be looking for. The 6’1″, 215-pound RB has fresh legs and would likely welcome a return to his home state of Texas.
Kendre Miller, New Orleans Saints
Kendre Miller, the Saints third-round draft pick in 2023, only managed to play in eight games last year as a rookie due to injuries and has already missed the first two preseason games with a hamstring injury this year. He continues to plummet down the RB depth chart in New Orleans and could find himself without a job when roster cuts are made. The former TCU standout could be the ideal risk/reward trade Dallas likes to take a chance on.