Why the Former Texas Running Back Was Arguably the Cowboys Most Important Pick
In the fifth round of the NFL draft, the Dallas Cowboys finally attended to their issue at running back. Despite their hopes of trading up, the Cowboys were fortunate to select Texas Longhorn Jaydon Blue at pick 149. Blue will be joining newly acquired Miles Sanders, Javonte Williams and Phil Mafah, who was drafted late in this year's draft. The hope is that Blue can fill the role of both explosive and versatile, as Tony Pollard who departed for the Titans once did for them.
Blue, in his three years at Texas, racked up over 1161 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns with an average of 5.4 yards a carry. Although his stats may not be as impressive as those of Ashton Jeanty, his skill set is undeniable. Blue’s elite explosiveness and vision downfield, matched with his versatility to play on the outside, have been critical for his play and are a reason why the Cowboys drafted him. His most notable play when he was tasked to catch from the backfield was his spectacular touchdown catch in the corner of the end zone against Texas A&M. The 21 year old’s speed showed at both the combine and his pro day, where he ran a 4.38 40-yard dash and a 4.28 40-yard dash, respectively.
It was pretty obvious Dallas needed a running back, and Blue is bringing a skill set that is desperately needed for this offense. His versatility on the outside as a wide receiver sparked an interest and is why Dallas Cowboys vice president of personnel Will McClay and head coach Brian Schottenheimer were so fond of choosing him. This past season without Pollard hurt the Cowboys, and while Rico Dowdle put up a valiant effort, the run game was a part of the offense that was not respected by NFL defenses. Dallas has also hinted at how they wanted to focus on the run game, and drafting new offensive lineman Tyler Booker in the first round to replace the future Hall of Famer Zack Martin shows the direction Schottenheimer wants to head. The addition of Blue paired with this young and revamped offensive line could be a pairing that could be in Dallas for years to come.
