Dallas Cowboys: Top 5 Running Backs Who Could Replace DeMarco Murray
The Dallas Cowboys face the brutal task of trying to re-sign two superstars in wide receiver Dez Bryant and running back DeMarco Murray. In order to have any realistic shot at signing other free agents, it's unlikely that they can re-sign both players.
As the days go on, it seems more and more likely that Murray may be playing somewhere other than with the Dallas Cowboys in 2015. If that does end up as the case, who are the top potential players to replace the NFL's leading rusher?
Could it end up being a player who's already on the roster such as Joseph Randle? Or will the most likely replacement be a huge name like Adrian Peterson?
There were a few things taken into consideration when ranking Murray's potential replacement from one to five. For starters, the player must be a realistic option (no adding Arian Foster just for fun).
The player also needs to either be a free agent, be on the roster currently or have a good chance to see the free-agency market.
All things go aside from that, which includes the potential of rookie running backs wearing a star on their helmet.
Honorable Mentions
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Ryan Williams
This is a long shot. For Williams to make the jump from practice squad to starting running back in Dallas would truly take something magical.
While it’s far more likely that Williams ends up being a supporting back to Joseph Randle, he still makes the “honorable mentions” cut due to the fact that he does have some flat-out talent that’s undeniable.
Justin Forsett
Forsett took his game to another level in 2014 and earned a Pro Bowl nod for it. He rushed for 1,266 yards and eight touchdowns, but he would be a much cheaper option than Murray.
Forsett is currently 29 years old but has just 582 rushes in his NFL career, compared to the 934 of Murray. What makes those numbers even more amazing, is that Forsett has been in the league two seasons longer than Murray.
Todd Gurley
While I believe the Cowboys would have to trade up to land Gurley, who am I to put it past Jerry Jones? The former Georgia Bulldog is absolutely the best running back prospect in the 2015 NFL draft, but it could cost Dallas to have a shot at landing him.
If you want to imagine an interesting situation, think about Gurley taking a slide and Jones facing a Johnny Manziel-type situation with the 27th overall pick in the first round.
Could Jones pass on Gurley at No. 27? Not a chance if the Cowboys have no one named DeMarco Murray on the roster.
Melvin Gordon
Gordon is the second-hottest prospect at running back heading into the offseason. Unfortunately for the fans who have fallen in love with Gordon, I don’t believe he falls down the draft board either.
Refer to Gurley above, though, because the situation is similar. If Gordon were to fall, Jones could take the leap of faith and add the former Wisconsin Badger.
5. Tevin Coleman
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Yes, a rookie running back not named Gurley or Gordon makes the actual list of five. Now, before you call me crazy, just hear me out. There is no running back in the 2015 NFL draft who has seen as many eight-man fronts as Coleman has.
He comes from a college team in the Indiana Hoosiers, who ranked 122nd in the nation in 2014 with just 141.4 passing yards per game.
As for Coleman? Well, he ranked second nationally behind only Gordon in total rushing yards at 2,036. Coleman faced teams such as Ohio State, Michigan State, Missouri, Maryland and Michigan, so it wasn’t an easy task hitting the 2,000 mark in 2014.
Coleman over Other Rookie Running Backs?
The question is, why Coleman over Gurley or Gordon? I believe there’s a much better chance that the Cowboys could get Coleman in the second round. Or they could possibly trade back out of the first round if they chose to go that route to add more draft picks, and then still draft Coleman.
It’s a long shot, but I see him as the most likely potential rookie running back to land in Dallas.
Why He’s Fifth
He has the potential to slide in the draft due to Gurley and Gordon both being ahead of him. If by some chance he is still available late in the second round, I think the Cowboys could very well take the leap and grab a potential future star to replace Murray.
4. Ryan Mathews
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If the Cowboys want to go with a fairly inexpensive option, then Mathews is their man. While he’s dealt with plenty of injuries throughout his career, we saw what he was truly capable of in 2013 when he rushed 285 times for 1,255 yards.
Mathews has the talent, as he’s averaged less than 4.3 yards per carry just once in his NFL career, but he needs to stay healthy.
To top it off, if the Cowboys do sign Mathews, it would allow them to spend free-agency money on their defensive line and any other key positions they decide to focus on this offseason.
It’s a bit of a risky sign, but since the Cowboys will have both Williams and Randle as backups, the risk may be worth the potential reward.
Why He’s Fourth
Attempting to figure out if a team will fall in love with a rookie running back is nearly impossible. Mathews gets the nod over Coleman, even though I believe the rookie would be a better choice.
It’s more likely that they strike a deal with Mathews in free agency than lock in one specific running back in the draft.
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3. Joseph Randle
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To be honest, no one knows exactly what Randle is capable of. He showed flashes of brilliance in 2014, as he averaged 6.7 yards per carry but was truly a change-of-pace back for Dallas.
The upside on Randle is huge, as he’s only 23 years old, and the Cowboys could be looking at their long-term answer at running back.
The issue with Randle is pretty simple, though. Can he hold up throughout an entire season if he’s asked to carry anywhere near the type of workload that DeMarco Murray had to?
That’s asking quite a bit, and even if Randle becomes the No. 1 option in the run game, I don’t believe they’ll rely completely on him.
Why He’s Third
Randle would probably rank second if there wasn’t such a good chance that Peterson’s time in Minnesota was nearing an end.
He knows the offense, he’s shown big-play ability and he’s incredibly young. Don’t be surprised if the Cowboys stick with Randle in 2015.
2. Adrian Peterson
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If you want to talk about a “sexy” pairing, then this is it. In an ESPN The Magazine article, Don Van Natta Jr. reported that Peterson had touched base with Jerry Jones about playing for the Dallas Cowboys before the 2014 season.
On top of that, our own Jason Cole explained that the Cowboys could get Peterson at a “reduced price.”
Could you imagine Peterson running behind that offensive line in Dallas? It’s a scary thought and one that may end up having a realistic chance of happening. If AP is truly willing to take less money to put a star on his helmet, then this could be a match made in heaven.
He was born and raised in Texas, and I don’t believe there’s any chance that the off-field drama scares Jones away from bringing in Peterson.
Why He’s Second
The reason why Peterson didn’t grab the top spot is due to the fact that his future is unknown. The Vikings could end up keeping Peterson, and then it’d all just be a pipe dream for fans of the Cowboys.
If it was a guarantee that he was going to hit free agency, he’d be locked into the top spot.
1. Mark Ingram
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Ingram is the man to watch for the Cowboys. If Murray does not re-sign, the probability that they make a push for Ingram is high. He’s not going to cost as much as Murray, and on top of that, he’s a year younger with less miles on his body.
While both have played four seasons, Murray has amassed 934 rushes over 53 games, while Ingram has 582 rushes over 50 games.
Ingram really came on in 2014 and rushed for 964 yards with nine touchdowns in just 13 games. He also showed the ability to catch passes in 2014, racking up 29 receptions, which could make him an even more attractive option for Dallas.
NOLA.com's Kat Terrell (h/t FanSided's Andrew Schuster) reported that the New Orleans Saints want Ingram back, but Schuster claims that Ingram wants to try his luck in the free-agent market.
Why He Earned the Top Spot
It simply makes sense. Ingram and the Cowboys may be a great fit, and while I believe Peterson and Dallas would make a better pairing, it’s more unlikely than Ingram.
Realistically, AP and Ingram rank pretty closely in terms of becoming potential replacements for Murray, but Ingram gets the slight edge.
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