Bobhaze
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The Cowboys have needed an upgrade at RB for two years. Since Tony Pollard left in free agency after 2023 and JJ’s famous kamikaze off-season in 2024 where the Cowboys didn’t even draft a RB, something needed to be done.
In the 2025 draft, the Cowboys finally selected two RBs, both Day 3 picks. Jaydon Blue of Univ of Texas in round 5 and Clemson’s Phil Mafa in round 7. Both are Day 3 picks for a reason but at least RB was addressed in the draft.
This thread takes a look at 7th round pick Phil Mafa. 6’1, 215, with a 4.55 40. What can he be? What can he not be?
First his college stats at Clemson and what they show:
Here’s what NFL.com had to say about Mafa in their scouting report:
STRENGTHS
As a 7th round pick, Mafa is a long shot to say the least. He’s got some skills though. With his size, durability and reputation as wearing people down, he could be a good red zone, short yardage option, or maybe a RB to feed with a 4th qtr 10 point lead.
So Mafa appears to have a narrow but clearly defined skill set. He’s not spectacular but as we head to TC, he will be an interesting player to watch. My expectations are low but I would love to be surprised.
In the 2025 draft, the Cowboys finally selected two RBs, both Day 3 picks. Jaydon Blue of Univ of Texas in round 5 and Clemson’s Phil Mafa in round 7. Both are Day 3 picks for a reason but at least RB was addressed in the draft.
This thread takes a look at 7th round pick Phil Mafa. 6’1, 215, with a 4.55 40. What can he be? What can he not be?
First his college stats at Clemson and what they show:
- 2021 (Freshman season) 9 games:
- Rushing 68/292 yds, 4.3 ypc, 3 TDs
- Receiving 7/50 yds, 7.1 ypc, 0 TDs
- Total touches 75/342 yds, 4.6 yds per touch, 3 TDs
- 2022 (Soph season) 14 games
- Rushing 98/515 yds, 5.3 ypc, 4 TDs
- Receiving 9/48 yds, 5.3 ypc 0 TDs
- Total touches 107/563 yds, 5.3 yds per touch 4 TDs
- 2023 (Junior season) 13 games
- Rushing 179/965 yds, 5.4 ypc, 13 TDs
- Receiving 21/108 yds, 5.1 ypc, 0 TDs
- Total touches 200/1,073 yds, 5.4 yards per touch, 13 TDs
- 2024 (Senior season) 14 games
- Rushing 216/1,115 yds, 5.2 ypc, 8 TDs
- Receiving 21/103 yards, 5.1 ypc, 0 TDs
- Total Touches: 237/1,218 yds, 5.1 yds per touch, 8 TDs
- TOTALS (50 games)
- Rushing 561/2,887 yds, 5.1 ypc, 28 TDs
- Receiving 58/309 yds, 5.3 ypc, 0 TDs
- Total touches: 619/3,196 yds, 5.2 yds per touch, 28 TDs
Here’s what NFL.com had to say about Mafa in their scouting report:
STRENGTHS
- Totes the rock in a linebacker-like frame.
- Keeps runs on track and rarely gets caught trying to do too much.
- Follows blocks and steers them into contact before cutting.
- Heavy behind his pads and wears tacklers down.
- Accelerates through contact as a run finisher.
- Lacks initial quickness to get the run kicked off.
- Tight-hipped with limited quickness in his cuts.
- Unable to side-step defenders in smaller spaces.
- Transmission lacks acceleration and gear shifts.
- Doesn’t offer much in the passing game.
As a 7th round pick, Mafa is a long shot to say the least. He’s got some skills though. With his size, durability and reputation as wearing people down, he could be a good red zone, short yardage option, or maybe a RB to feed with a 4th qtr 10 point lead.
So Mafa appears to have a narrow but clearly defined skill set. He’s not spectacular but as we head to TC, he will be an interesting player to watch. My expectations are low but I would love to be surprised.
