Jerry Jones is fighting hard to get at everything that will help the Cowboys come out from the 7-10 finish last year. There were some definite gaps all over the roster, which caused them to place 3rd in the NFC East and miss the playoffs. The team severely lacked when it came to rushing and had the poorest run game (77.2 yards per game) in the first six weeks of the season. Naturally, they’ll be looking at some promising offensive players in the draft. A Super Bowl-winning HC suggests that Jones looks to the best there is when it comes to running backs.
A shoddy offense was one of the many reasons why the Cowboys tanked in 2024. Mike McCarthy made Rico Dowdle the main RB. He had an up-and-down performance that showed greatly in the Steelers game. When Dowdle had at least 20 touches, Dallas was 3-0, but 2-6 otherwise. Running back is a key issue that Jones must solve in the draft. For that, former Tampa Bay Super Bowl-winning HC Jon Gruden has a suggestion.
An NFL scout appeared on the Jon Gruden Barstool show in an April 12 video. There, he ranked his running back picks for the draft. For his No. 1 pick, he chose Boise State’s Ashton Jeanty. The star RB has been a much-talked-about prospect for a long time and was expected to go as a Round 1 pick by many. He said, “I call him the airbender. The last airbender. Probably the best contact balance I’ve ever seen out of a running back. He has natural hands out of the backfield.” The scout notes that his natural hands out of the backfield are the reason he has six touchdowns through receiving and 50 through passing. “You think you have this guy. You don’t.” Jeanty also produced 2,601 yards last year, making him a coveted running talent.
However, Grueden quickly pointed out the Penn State game, which Boise State lost 14-31. “The ball security is a problem in that game,” he noted. The scout replied, “I think that’s going to put a chip on his shoulder because if you look at his career and the totality, the fumbles aren’t there. I think he was playing a little hero ball. Probably tried to do a little too much.” That game was Jeanty’s season-worst. He could only carry the ball 30 times for 104 yards, averaging a measly 3.5 yards per carry in the process. All numbers are a season-low for the star RB.
Then, Gruden brought Jeanty’s pass production to attention. But the scout wasn’t too worried about that. He said, “Pass protection, pretty good. But he needs to get a little sand in his pants. I think his technique’s good, but he’s got to anchor down a little bit better at the next level.” Just a little more chiseling of his game should set him right for the future.
Jeanty is an absolute monster when it comes to those yards. Combining all of his rushing and passing yards across three seasons, they amount to more than 5600 yards. Add to that 50 touchdowns throughout the entirety of his college football career. If that was not enough to get Jerry Jones’ interest, Jeanty is also a runner-up to the Heisman trophy. Hopes remain high for Jeanty in the draft, but elsewhere, Jones is clearly faced with issues.
More troubles await Jerry Jones
Jerry Jones might have to take the idiom of ‘biting the bullet’ a little seriously when it comes to the defense. They already have a great prospect—Micah Parsons—on board. However, it looks like they’ll have to look at an unpredictable player that others have been warned to stay away from.
Marca’s Gustavo Rivadeneyra points out that while Mason Graham could have sealed the deal for Jones, he may not have had much time. In the first round, it is likely that Graham is picked by someone else before Jones takes his chance. Dallas has the No. 12 pick. And Jeanty was often regarded as one.
So, they have busied themselves with Walter Nolen, the Rebels’ defensive tackle. However, there is a serious problem: Jones has been warned about the former’s issues. ESPN particularly sounded an alarm about Nolen’s temperament. The publication implied that his emotions get the better of him, which hints at the level of his “maturity.” A key problem is reportedly known as a common issue; Nolen walks out of practice often during practice. If Jones manages to keep an eye on that, he’d have some great potential with Nolen on board. In 2024, he made a total of 48 tackles and also 6.5 sacks on his belt. Plus, there’s an all-American feather decorating his cap. What Jones needs to display with Nolen is a balance of caution and care to mold him to perform better as a focused player.
Jerry Jones, despite being the juggernaut figure in gridiron football, surely has one of the most troubling off-seasons in the league. Will Jones be able to land Ashton Jeanty and also manage a possible situation with Walter Nolen?
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