NFL Draft: Do Dallas Cowboys Select Trent Richardson If He Falls In First Round?

Each year in the NFL draft a certain player or players will fall unexpectedly further than previously thought possible. This usually occurs around a player with character issues of one kind or another—and there are plenty of candidates. But once in awhile there is an unexpected opportunity for a few teams that could not envision a given player being available.

With the NFL putting so much emphasis on the passing game and many offenses rotating running backs, it is not uncommon for highly ranked running backs coming out of college to fall late in the first round. The 2011 NFL Draft saw a former Heisman Trophy-winning running back slide all the way to the 28th selection. There had to be some grins in New Orleans as former Alabama tailback Mark Ingram slid right into the hands of that high-powered Saints offense.

Ingram’s successor, Trent Richardson of the national champion Crimson Tide, is mocked in the top 10 selections just about everywhere you look. About the same was said for Ingram just a year beyond winning the Heisman, and yet he lasted virtually the entire first round.

Richardson is a beast of a running back who combines power and speed into a very unique package. Few running backs boast the ability to go through linebackers and also separate from defensive backs. He catches passes out of the backfield and is an impressive blocker in the backfield.

Could the Dallas Cowboys offense use these qualities or what?

I cannot see Richardson falling out of the top 10 unless his 40 time at the NFL Scouting Combine is slower than expected, assuming that he even runs there. Either way, the chances are slim he will fall far enough for the Cowboys to even have a shot.

But what if?

Stranger things have happened in the NFL draft over the years, and I keep considering that running backs are becoming less and less coveted around the league. There seems to be a “dime per dozen” mentality across the league as so many teams use more than one true running back.

Well, Dallas has been doing this since Emmitt Smith bolted for Arizona to play out his last two years with the Cardinals following the 2002 regular season. That’s almost a full decade without a franchise running back, and if the opportunity presents itself then it’s time for this to stop.  

In both of Dallas’ Super Bowl eras, guys named Tony Dorsett and Emmitt Smith were gracing the backfield. The Cowboys should probably review some film soon.

If the Cowboys are honest with themselves heading into the offseason, which starts in just under a week officially, the backfield has to give them some uneasiness.

Rookie running back DeMarco Murray was a pleasant surprise in his rookie campaign that ended abruptly following a serious injury against the New York Giants in early December. Murray suffered both a broken right ankle and a high ankle sprain, requiring (successful) corrective surgery.

Still, there’s something about a rookie running back, coming off that kind of injury, who also suffered significant injuries while in the Oklahoma Sooners backfield that concerns me.

Don’t get me wrong, Murray is the real deal. But you should never be opposed to making your team really, really good at one position. The Cowboys have tried numerous combinations of running backs the last nine seasons but never with anyone as good as Richardson. Further, durability is something to appreciate and Richardson definitely has that.

What if Murray injures the ankle again?

Understand that Murray suffered a knee cap dislocation in 2007 and missed the 2008 Big 12 Championship and BCS Championship Games with an injured hamstring.

Outside of the injuries Murray was immensely productive at Oklahoma. Murray’s laundry list of awards and records are proof that he has elite ability and the Cowboys have seen this as well. After all, the Dallas offense sputtered down the stretch without Murray and his value is not second guessed one bit.

But do you trust Felix Jones to stay healthy? I sure don’t and if I’m the Cowboys I try to at least have a potential trade in the works should Richardson fall to the No. 14 selection come April.

Richardson’s Alabama resume compares quite favorably to that of Murray in every meaningful offensive category. Richardson has durability and, like Murray, is a powerful back that can really run in the open field after good instincts got him there.

Yes, the Cowboys have other areas of pressing need that probably trump the idea of selecting another running back high in the draft. Then again, the Cowboys have done it before.

Wasn’t Felix Jones a first-round selection despite the presence of Marion Barber?

He was.

Despite Jason Witten already on the roster, the Cowboys felt the need to take another starting caliber prospect in tight end Martellus Bennett in the second round of the 2008 NFL Draft.

Don’t get me started on wide receivers in recent years.

Despite what it looks like on paper, the Dallas roster is deceptively thin at the running back position. And remember that Jones is entering the final year of his original five-year deal signed as a rookie. You intend to resign him for another three to four seasons?

I think not.

If Richardson is there then the Cowboys would almost have to pounce on him.

They may say that the NFL is a “passing league” now, but if you can’t run the ball then you will not pass as well as you would like—and the Dallas Cowboys certainly do not.