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

[Rayman70]

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.

That's it, we do wanna play bully ball. That's the plan. Which is why he was a fit

 

[Rayman70]

Relax. The guy is darn near a udfa. He's a steal if he gets meaningful reps in a game. Which he should.

 

[CowboysFaninHouston]

Yes

for him to get to 800 he probably needs around 200 carries give or take a few..so that's a major role for a player. sorry can't see him get 200 carries. last year we had 429. assume this year a little more with reliance on running game, so that's still about 40% of the carries. what do you expect Blue to get? and Williams or Sanders? and few carries for Turpin, CD, etc. that would be Mafah getting more carries than Blue, Williams or Sanders.....

just doesn't sound realistic. can't see him being the main back.

 

[Rayman70]

for him to get to 800 he probably needs around 200 carries give or take a few..so that's a major role for a player. sorry can't see him get 200 carries. last year we had 429. assume this year a little more with reliance on running game, so that's still about 40% of the carries. what do you expect Blue to get? and Williams or Sanders? and few carries for Turpin, CD, etc.

just doesn't sound realistic.

I'm thinking an injury to one of our vets will happen as is common in the NFL. So he will get a shot at it. By years end I envision a heavier dose of him and Blue , Williams.

 

[Pass2Run]

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

For sure. We should have 5 RBs who can potentially produce: Sanders, Williams, Mafah, Luepke, Blue.

I honestly think this is the last year for Deuce in Dallas. I've watched all the NFL tape on him that there is and I think his size limits him in spite of his talent.

I can't call it on Mafah. He could be better than expected or just be a PS, developmental guy.

There's also the possibility we add another runner if Sanders and Williams don't end up working out.

 

[Rayman70]

Sanders is the guy I'm skeptical on.

 

[Rockport]

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.

Averaging over 1,000 yards a year and scoring 28 td’s in 4 years is better than average. Just man up and admit you goofed on this one. We all make mistakes. It happens.

 

[Pass2Run]

for him to get to 800 he probably needs around 200 carries give or take a few..so that's a major role for a player. sorry can't see him get 200 carries. last year we had 429. assume this year a little more with reliance on running game, so that's still about 40% of the carries. what do you expect Blue to get? and Williams or Sanders? and few carries for Turpin, CD, etc. that would be Mafah getting more carries than Blue, Williams or Sanders.....

just doesn't sound realistic. can't see him being the main back.

To me, Mafah is a 2nd half, maybe goal line back.

 

[Rayman70]

I think if we want to get an idea of what BS will do , go watch his Dad . Marty was a run heavy HC. Everything was ran off of the success running. It's old-school but it works. Ask the 2024 Chiefs . If we can establish decent success running it, we will be in every game. Might not mean winning, but we will have chances. I think the plan is ball control, bully ball, limiting Dak to safe passes only.

 

[Rayman70]

Soften defenses up with Williams and Mafah, then hit them with blue later.

 

[gimmesix]

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.

The initial quickness is a concern and probably one of the main reasons he lasted into the seventh round. Backs on this level have to be able to get into and through the line quickly or the hole closes. You can be a hammer, but it's tough to hammer through gaps that have closed and getting hit in the backfield.

 

[Bobhaze]

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.

Ray, I won’t feel threatened if he succeeds. I will be surprised but if so, great! I like watching project players develop.

If Mafa turns into a regular contributor during the upcoming regular season, great. If not, we haven’t burned big draft capital.

 

[Pass2Run]

Based on everything I’ve seen and read about Phil Mafa including his college tape, IMO he is not a complete back. His best hope is an occasional contributor.

Maybe he can develop. But IMO, expecting a guy at the bottom of the draft to turn into a regular contributor to a running game screaming for major help is the hole in one or a full court length basketball shot kind of hope. Possible. Not likely.

As always, I could be dead wrong. For anyone believing Phil Mafah is going to be an immediate help, now is the season for hope. Anxious to see Mafa in TC.

I honestly can't believe they traded up in the 5th for a ST player when Devin Neal was available.

 

[JoeKing]

I'm tired of all the talking about our new RBs. It all amounts to nothing. Be patient and we will see soon enough what they can do. Yes, Dak needs a reliable running game to complement our passing game and keeping the chains moving. Rhetoric and hype about Mafa and Blue is not helping. The practice with no pads is not revealing anything about what these two can do for the team. The ground and pound game can only be truly tested under live fire.

 

[thunderpimp91]

Averaging over 1,000 yards a year and scoring 28 td’s in 4 years is better than average. Just man up and admit you goofed on this one.

Except I really don't think I did. Its not 1998 anymore and counting stats are not how teams are evaluating players. These days with 17 game schedules 1000 yards is less than 60 yards per game. Its not viewed as the benchmark it was at one time.

Hes the only player to reach 1000 yards this year and average less than 4 YPC....Other back to do that since Najee has been in the league were Rachaad White and Travis Etienne. Neither of those guys are considered above average backs either.

Celebrating 1000+ yards while averaging a low YPC is like celebrating the 300+ yard passing performance from the QB who threw the ball 60 times. It's not really an accomplishment as much as it is minimum expectations.

If Najee Harris is better than average why did he have to settle for a 1 year deal on a team that also used a 1st round pick on a RB?

 

[Blackrain]

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.

I'm hoping we get a player like Marion Barber the guy is similar size.
I would be elated with that kind of production if we would be that lucky

 

[Havic]

Mafah plays very high, no acceleration, for such a big bulldozing back I dont see him lowering his shoulder much, at least not on the tape posted here. Bo Scarabough seems like his comparison atm.

 

[Jarv]

We may get somewhat of an accurate idea of what to expect from Mafah in his preseason outings.

The improved performance of our OL should offer good clues as to his capabilities. Let's take note.

Mafah will not be running behind our starting Oline in pre-season. He also won't be running against starters. That being said I'm still hoping he does well in the pre-season.

 

[CowboysFaninHouston]

To me, Mafah is a 2nd half, maybe goal line back.

that's what I thought, but somebody mentioned that in goal line and short yardage, things are right, holes are few and quickness is key which he doesn't have it.

 

[CowboysFaninHouston]

I'm thinking an injury to one of our vets will happen as is common in the NFL. So he will get a shot at it. By years end I envision a heavier dose of him and Blue , Williams.

hope so. as excited as we are about the RB group, its better than last year with Zeke and Dowdle who teetered on the edge of being cut. but there is still a lot of question marks with this group. is there potential? yes, but there is also a lot of concern.