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http://insider.espn.go.com/nfl/draf...rospects-dallas-cowboys-target-2015-nfl-draft
DeMarco Murray's free-agent departure to the Philadelphia Eagles creates uncertainty at running back for a Dallas Cowboys offense that finished second in rushing yards per game and third in rushing yards per carry last year.
The good news for Dallas is that the investments made in the offensive line have paid off, and that group deserves the lion's share of the credit for the Cowboys' success running the ball.
It will be interesting to see if they can jump-start the career of free-agent signing Darren McFadden, who averaged just 3.3 yards per carry over the past three seasons. McFadden, of course, has had a hard time staying healthy, and the Cowboys still need to address running back in the draft.
Which prospects could they target?
Georgia's Todd Gurley is the one back worth considering late in the first round. At 6-foot-1 and 222 pounds, he has above-average power, top-end speed and good vision. Plus, he can contribute as a receiver, which is important for Murray's replacement, because Murray caught 110 passes during the past two seasons.
Gurley is coming off a torn ACL, which complicates matters, and it seems unlikely to me that Dallas will target a back in the first round even if it is comfortable with Gurley's medical reports. McFadden's college running mate Felix Jones (2008) is the last back Dallas drafted in the first round, and the only back it's drafted in the first since it took Emmitt Smith back in 1990. The Cowboys also have pressing needs on defense, and they would do well to land a defensive lineman like Florida State's Eddie Goldman or a corner like Washington's Marcus Peters at No. 27 overall.
Here's a look at four backs the Cowboys could target after the first round:
-
Jay Ajayi, Boise State
Scouts Inc. Grade: 81
Ajayi is a bigger back (6-0, 221 pounds) who gives blockers enough time to get into position and hits the gas as soon as he locates a seam, so he would make the most of playing behind Dallas' offensive line. He doesn't just take what his blockers give him, either, as he's shown the ability to make the first defender miss and pick up yards after contact. As far as the passing game is concerned, he's an above-average route-runner for the position, he has good hands and he produces after the catch. He also made strides as a pass-blocker last year.
As talented as he is, he could slip to the Cowboys late in the second round due to the fact that he has just average speed, and he's had some problems holding onto the football. He's also carried a heavy workload over the past two seasons, and that -- combined with his injury history -- causes some concern about his ability to stay healthy in the NFL.
David Johnson, Northern Iowa
Scouts Inc. Grade: 69
At 6-0, 224 pounds, Johnson has the lower-body strength to churn out yards between the tackles and the second gear to break longer runs when he gets room to build steam. He shows good patience setting up his blocks, and he doesn't waste time getting his shoulders north-south once he sees daylight. Plus, he's built to carry a heavy workload and stay healthy doing so. While he's inconsistent in pass protection at this point, he's a natural pass-catcher who adjusts to passes thrown outside his frame and picks up yards after the catch.
Johnson is more "fast" than "quick" on tape. He doesn't show great burst to and through the hole, or acceleration around the corner on perimeter runs. He's also a high-cut runner who doesn't break as many tackles you might expect for a bigger back.
Buck Allen, USC
Scouts Inc. Grade: 66
At 6-0, 221 pounds, Allen is another bigger back the Cowboys could consider late in the third round and would do well to land if he were to slip into the fourth. There's room for improvement in terms of his reading lead blockers, but he does a nice job of reading the front five and he has a good feel for cutback lanes. There's also a lot to like about his ability to contribute on third down. He shows the ability to pluck the ball out of the air as a pass-catcher, and also shows good instincts when he gets into space. He's also an effective cut blocker in pass protection.
Allen runs behind his pads and falls forward at the end of runs, but he doesn't have great power for a bigger back, and he doesn't always run angry. Like Ajayi, he also has to do a better job of taking care of the football.
Terrence Magee, LSU
Scouts Inc. Grade: 53
Magee is the smallest back on the list (5-9, 213), and he doesn't show great speed on tape. He doesn't have anywhere near the same kind of résumé as the other players, either, but he's made the most of his chances and it's important to put his lack of production in perspective. He backed up Bengals 2014 second-round pick Jeremy Hill in 2013 and super-talented true freshman Leonard Fournette last season.
Here's why Magee could turn into Day 3 steal, especially if Dallas takes him: He's a patient runner with outstanding vision, and his height will make it tough for linebackers to track him running behind the Cowboys' offensive line. He doesn't have overwhelming power, but he runs hard between the tackles and he has the low center of gravity to pick up yards after contact. Finally, he doesn't have big hands or a great deal of experience catching the ball, but he caught the ball well given the opportunity at LSU and did likewise during the East-West Shrine game practices.
DeMarco Murray's free-agent departure to the Philadelphia Eagles creates uncertainty at running back for a Dallas Cowboys offense that finished second in rushing yards per game and third in rushing yards per carry last year.
The good news for Dallas is that the investments made in the offensive line have paid off, and that group deserves the lion's share of the credit for the Cowboys' success running the ball.
It will be interesting to see if they can jump-start the career of free-agent signing Darren McFadden, who averaged just 3.3 yards per carry over the past three seasons. McFadden, of course, has had a hard time staying healthy, and the Cowboys still need to address running back in the draft.
Which prospects could they target?
Georgia's Todd Gurley is the one back worth considering late in the first round. At 6-foot-1 and 222 pounds, he has above-average power, top-end speed and good vision. Plus, he can contribute as a receiver, which is important for Murray's replacement, because Murray caught 110 passes during the past two seasons.
Gurley is coming off a torn ACL, which complicates matters, and it seems unlikely to me that Dallas will target a back in the first round even if it is comfortable with Gurley's medical reports. McFadden's college running mate Felix Jones (2008) is the last back Dallas drafted in the first round, and the only back it's drafted in the first since it took Emmitt Smith back in 1990. The Cowboys also have pressing needs on defense, and they would do well to land a defensive lineman like Florida State's Eddie Goldman or a corner like Washington's Marcus Peters at No. 27 overall.
Here's a look at four backs the Cowboys could target after the first round:
-
Jay Ajayi, Boise State
Scouts Inc. Grade: 81
Ajayi is a bigger back (6-0, 221 pounds) who gives blockers enough time to get into position and hits the gas as soon as he locates a seam, so he would make the most of playing behind Dallas' offensive line. He doesn't just take what his blockers give him, either, as he's shown the ability to make the first defender miss and pick up yards after contact. As far as the passing game is concerned, he's an above-average route-runner for the position, he has good hands and he produces after the catch. He also made strides as a pass-blocker last year.
As talented as he is, he could slip to the Cowboys late in the second round due to the fact that he has just average speed, and he's had some problems holding onto the football. He's also carried a heavy workload over the past two seasons, and that -- combined with his injury history -- causes some concern about his ability to stay healthy in the NFL.
David Johnson, Northern Iowa
Scouts Inc. Grade: 69
At 6-0, 224 pounds, Johnson has the lower-body strength to churn out yards between the tackles and the second gear to break longer runs when he gets room to build steam. He shows good patience setting up his blocks, and he doesn't waste time getting his shoulders north-south once he sees daylight. Plus, he's built to carry a heavy workload and stay healthy doing so. While he's inconsistent in pass protection at this point, he's a natural pass-catcher who adjusts to passes thrown outside his frame and picks up yards after the catch.
Johnson is more "fast" than "quick" on tape. He doesn't show great burst to and through the hole, or acceleration around the corner on perimeter runs. He's also a high-cut runner who doesn't break as many tackles you might expect for a bigger back.
Buck Allen, USC
Scouts Inc. Grade: 66
At 6-0, 221 pounds, Allen is another bigger back the Cowboys could consider late in the third round and would do well to land if he were to slip into the fourth. There's room for improvement in terms of his reading lead blockers, but he does a nice job of reading the front five and he has a good feel for cutback lanes. There's also a lot to like about his ability to contribute on third down. He shows the ability to pluck the ball out of the air as a pass-catcher, and also shows good instincts when he gets into space. He's also an effective cut blocker in pass protection.
Allen runs behind his pads and falls forward at the end of runs, but he doesn't have great power for a bigger back, and he doesn't always run angry. Like Ajayi, he also has to do a better job of taking care of the football.
Terrence Magee, LSU
Scouts Inc. Grade: 53
Magee is the smallest back on the list (5-9, 213), and he doesn't show great speed on tape. He doesn't have anywhere near the same kind of résumé as the other players, either, but he's made the most of his chances and it's important to put his lack of production in perspective. He backed up Bengals 2014 second-round pick Jeremy Hill in 2013 and super-talented true freshman Leonard Fournette last season.
Here's why Magee could turn into Day 3 steal, especially if Dallas takes him: He's a patient runner with outstanding vision, and his height will make it tough for linebackers to track him running behind the Cowboys' offensive line. He doesn't have overwhelming power, but he runs hard between the tackles and he has the low center of gravity to pick up yards after contact. Finally, he doesn't have big hands or a great deal of experience catching the ball, but he caught the ball well given the opportunity at LSU and did likewise during the East-West Shrine game practices.
