A closer look at RB Phil Mafah and what he can and can't be

[kskboys]

He hasn't taken 1 snap in the NFL yet. Amazing.

He lacks the physical skillset. Amazing.

 

[Rayman70]

He's not close to White or Kinnebrew.

Beg to differ. While those guys were more workhorses, they are similar. I think he has similar skill sets but I don't think they want 1 RB being the man. We will use a committee.

 

[Rayman70]

Actually, it looks more like you're the one w/ angst!!!!!!!!!!!

Most people don't think a slow to the hole RB w/ no agility will be much of a player. I'm just not understanding why that bothers you!!!!!!

Nah man. It's football. Not life. Just a debate. I take none of this seriously like some here.

 

[Rayman70]

He lacks the physical skillset. Amazing.

We will have our chance to see in time. As for me, I'm pulling for the kid to help us win. Not sure about you.

 

[Rayman70]

He lacks the physical skillset. Amazing.

I get it, your dug in. We can agree on one thing, we will have all doubt removed in due time. I want all our picks to succeed. I think the guy has a viable chance in this scheme.

 

[thunderpimp91]

You know what it tells me,

it tells me the guy has at the very least a positive part of his game is he wasn't worn out in college, sometimes you get guys with too much mileage they don't last long in the NFL, especially a guy like him who reminds me of Najee Harris. I was sitting here thinking about this.

i've never been impressed with Najee Harris's game except for the fact he was big and strong and can keep the chains moving he was not spectacular nothing he did looked great, but it was good enough for the Pittsburgh Steelers for four years and then it looks like in free agency he found a home...​

This is spot on and I mean that in both a good way and a bad way. On the plus side we can be pretty confident that even if Mafah never shows to be a well rounded back he at least has one plus skill in his bag to be part of a committee situation.

On the flip side a lot of people are falling in love with Mafah's college tape, but college tape for RBs can be one of the most deceiving things anyone will find. Najee Harris looked to be superman from his college film. In college he could truck a backer on play, and juke them out of their shoes the next....he also averaged a little over 10 yards per catch in college. Completely different world once a back gets to the NFL.

 

[America's Cowboy]

This film breakdown on Phil Mafah actually dispells a lot of the criticism being posted in here about Phil Mafah.



I have a feeling Phil Mafah is going to surprise a lot of people this rookie year in Dallas.

 

[DeaconMoss]

Yes a very late rd guy, so I ask, why the angst? Wouldn't it be cool if he not only made the team but was a bit better than anyone thought?

BC he was not a good pick. Poor production. Poor athleticism. in the 7th and UDFA have to be looking for traits.
What are Mafahs transferrable NFL traits? Speed? no. Durability? No. RAS? No. Power and Size. Yes.
Phil Mafah-Clemson-7th rd- RAS 64- Production 55

Donovan Edwards, Michigan | Jets UDFA-RAS 92 Production 54-Captain. Champion. 5 star recruit.
Montrell Johnson Jr., Florida | Eagles UDFA RAS 78 Production 52
Raheim Sanders, South Carolina | Chargers UDFA RAS 67 Production 73

 

[Rockport]

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:

• 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

What the college stats say to me is that while at Clemson, Mafa was a consistent, reliable, (not spectacular) running option, who was good but clearly not great. Probably not a good receiving option as his yards per catch show along with 0 TDs. He seems to be a good red zone runner with some size. Not a lot of breakaway speed.

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.

WEAKNESSES

• 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.

The pre-draft score for Phil Mafa according to NFL.com is 5.69 which is categorized as a player who is probably a deeper back-up, practice squad type player.

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.

Excellent write up as usual. Not much expected from a 7th rounder. Who knows, maybe he can be a short yardage dynamo.

 

[Rockport]

With above average OL play Mafah can be productive. Same for Blue. We have a lot riding on our 3 first round OL this year.

That has to work out for any of these RBs to have success.

Out of curiosity, what was Dowdle's pre-draft score? What about Blue?

Yep, it all starts up front. On both sides of the ball. Build from the trenches out. Cowboys at least are embracing that philosophy.

 

[Rayman70]

BC he was not a good pick. Poor production. Poor athleticism. in the 7th and UDFA have to be looking for traits.
What are Mafahs transferrable NFL traits? Speed? no. Durability? No. RAS? No. Power and Size. Yes.
Phil Mafah-Clemson-7th rd- RAS 64- Production 55

Donovan Edwards, Michigan | Jets UDFA-RAS 92 Production 54-Captain. Champion. 5 star recruit.
Montrell Johnson Jr., Florida | Eagles UDFA RAS 78 Production 52
Raheim Sanders, South Carolina | Chargers UDFA RAS 67 Production 73

I loved those others you listed as well. I won't disagree about the production but as far as where we got him, it is yet to be determined if he was a bad pick. No one knows. What if those other guys get cut or put on the PS? Was that a bad pick too? Will you revise your statement? I will be among the first to revise mine if Mafah is hot garbage. Got no problem at all with being dead wrong. I think your thinking is a bit predetermined though.

 

[Rockport]

This is spot on and I mean that in both a good way and a bad way. On the plus side we can be pretty confident that even if Mafah never shows to be a well rounded back he at least has one plus skill in his bag to be part of a committee situation.

On the flip side a lot of people are falling in love with Mafah's college tape, but college tape for RBs can be one of the most deceiving things anyone will find. Najee Harris looked to be superman from his college film. In college he could truck a backer on play, and juke them out of their shoes the next....he also averaged a little over 10 yards per catch in college. Completely different world once a back gets to the NFL.

Najee Harris has run for over 1,000 yards every season and has scored 28 td’s in 4 years in the NFL.

 

[Rayman70]

A 7th rd pick is basically a udfa. It's all gravy if he pans out. Why all the controversy lol. Why do some feel threatened if he succeeds? Don't we want him to? Help me understand. I want all of our guys to be good not a few.

 

[DasTex]

Watched a lot of Clemon the past couple years due to Klubnik (from same HS my kids go to).
He was just consistent...nothing made you say wow. He just got the yards that were there, occasionally breaking off a longer run when the hole was big.
With a good Oline, he can produce in the NFL. He fits the mold of one of those RBs who if a team decided, he's the #1 RB and there is no RB by committee, you'd look at the end of the year and he'd be an unspectacular 1000 yd back. Now, that really doesn't work in the NFL these days and you typically don't see that WTH 1000 yd back anymore...so who knows how it plays out with Dallas.

My guess - he ends up on the PS, get's some burn during the season due to injuries. Finishes with around 300 yds and 4 yds per carry and 2-3 TDs.

 

[thunderpimp91]

Najee Harris has run for over 1,000 yards every season and has scored 28 td’s in 4 years in the NFL.

Yep and it landed him a backup/rotational position with the Chargers this year. Averaging 3.9 yards per carry for his career it means that Harris is getting to 1000+ yards based on volume more so than quality runs. He is nowhere near the back he was in college and in any draft redo no one would touch him in the 1st couple of rounds. His college film did not translate to the NFL, and I dont think there is an argument against that.

 

[CowboysFaninHouston]

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:

• 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

What the college stats say to me is that while at Clemson, Mafa was a consistent, reliable, (not spectacular) running option, who was good but clearly not great. Probably not a good receiving option as his yards per catch show along with 0 TDs. He seems to be a good red zone runner with some size. Not a lot of breakaway speed.

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.

WEAKNESSES

• 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.

The pre-draft score for Phil Mafa according to NFL.com is 5.69 which is categorized as a player who is probably a deeper back-up, practice squad type player.

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.

hmm, based on these weaknesses I think we will see him get tackled behind the LOS a lot. no initial quickness, and tight hipped, so can't dance his way out. forget outside runs. he will have a few good runs to peak people's interest because once he gets a head of steam, then he is a load, and that will depend on OL opening big enough holes for him to build that head of steam.

how different is he than Leupke...maybe a little faster. a little niftier. so probably the short yardage back to plow into the line and push forward for the needed 1 or 2 yards.

 

[DeaconMoss]

I loved those others you listed as well. I won't disagree about the production but as far as where we got him, it is yet to be determined if he was a bad pick. No one knows. What if those other guys get cut or put on the PS? Was that a bad pick too? Will you revise your statement? I will be among the first to revise mine if Mafah is hot garbage. Got no problem at all with being dead wrong. I think your thinking is a bit predetermined though.

You can't be hindsight on picks. I am not rescinding anything based on what happens in the future. All I am saying is at the time of the pick, I listed 3 guys that would have been better picks. They all have traits Mafah doesn't. Maybe Mafah proves me wrong. But at the time of the pick, he was not the best choice. If Dallas wants to line up and play bully ball, then Maybe Mafah has a shot. But CD and Pickens tells me Bully ball is not in the cards. And Mafah better learn how to cover kicks if wants to see the field.

 

[CowboysFaninHouston]

He's a serviceable underrated RB that might have a better pro career than college. At worst, he's a 700-800 total yard guy. Maybe gets 5-10 TDS a year. At best? That's the question. None of us really know right now. Not til the pads are on.

700-800? really!?

 

[Rayman70]

Watched a lot of Clemon the past couple years due to Klubnik (from same HS my kids go to).
He was just consistent...nothing made you say wow. He just got the yards that were there, occasionally breaking off a longer run when the hole was big.
With a good Oline, he can produce in the NFL. He fits the mold of one of those RBs who if a team decided, he's the #1 RB and there is no RB by committee, you'd look at the end of the year and he'd be an unspectacular 1000 yd back. Now, that really doesn't work in the NFL these days and you typically don't see that WTH 1000 yd back anymore...so who knows how it plays out with Dallas.

My guess - he ends up on the PS, get's some burn during the season due to injuries. Finishes with around 300 yds and 4 yds per carry and 2-3 TDs.

Thats on the low end imo. But I like the honest take. Fair. That's what I saw. Nothing electric but the guy gets positive yards.

 

[Rayman70]

700-800? really!?

Yes