Stephen Jones on Cowboys Possibly Drafting Bijan Robinson: 'You Never Know'

The Dallas Cowboys used their franchise tag on Tony Pollard this offseason, but they aren't ruling out another major investment at running back.

Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones said the team could wind up taking Texas running back Bijan Robinson if he winds up falling in the draft.

"I'm sure when that first day is over [of this year's NFL Draft], he's certainly gonna have a team, and you never know," Jones said.

Robinson is widely expected to be taken in the top half of the first round, perhaps inside the top 10. The Cowboys have the No. 26 pick in Round 1 and are unlikely to trade up for a running back with Pollard locked in as their Week 1 starter.

Should Robinson unexpectedly start to fall on draft day, however, the Cowboys have never been shy about drafting for talent over need.

The 2022 Doak Walker Award winner, Robinson rushed for 1,580 yards and 18 touchdowns while emerging as clearly the top running back in the 2023 draft class. He continued to impress at the NFL scouting combine, posting a 4.46-second time in the 40-yard dash and finishing second among running backs in athleticism score.

While Robinson was rarely asked to serve as a focal point in the passing game at Texas, he's expressed a willingness to line up at receiver.

"First of all, I feel like if you're a guy who can do all three for your offense, I think that's a very special quality for a player," Robinson told reporters at the combine. "You line a player up at receiver, at slot or, obviously, at running back. Just creating mismatches all over the field and being able to create space for yourself ... that's a high value everybody should look at."

Pollard has already signed his franchise tag and will be playing out the 2023 season on the one-year contract. While he's looked like a potential three-down superstar splitting work with Ezekiel Elliott, it's fair to wonder if the Cowboys have any desire to sign a veteran running back to a long-term deal after the fiasco that was Elliott's contract.

Having a star in the making like Robinson could help solve some of those long-term concerns.