Saquon Barkley’s success helps make the case for a running back in the first round for the Cowboys

We are going to talk about Ashton Jeanty a lot over the new couple of months.

The worst case scenario has come true for Dallas Cowboys fans. Both the Philadelphia Eagles and the Washington Commanders have made the NFC Championship, something the Cowboys haven’t done since the 1995 season. While no Cowboys fan wants to see the Philadelphia Eagles have the success they’re having, a lot can be taken away from the way they’ve built their team this season. Despite having a highly-paid quarterback and two expensive receivers already on the roster, the Eagles prioritized the running back position this offseason. They signed Saquon Barkley in free agency, and now he is putting together one of the greatest rushing seasons in NFL history.

While there is no doubt that the Cowboys should address the running back position this offseason, fans seem divided on how they should. Some believe they should select Boise State star running back Ashton Jeanty in the first round of the NFL draft. Other fans believe they should avoid a running back in the first round, as the position isn’t worth the value of such a high pick.

However, Saquon Barkley’s success in Philadelphia and Derrick Henry’s in Baltimore are showing just how valuable having an elite running back can be for a team. For perspective, Eagles QB Jalen Hurts has thrown for just 259 yards and two touchdowns combined in their last two playoff games. However, dominant performances by Barkley has brought them to the conference championship game.

Having a dominant run game makes things easier for a team. While having a dominant run game can relieve pressure off a quarterback having to make plays, it also helps the team’s defense as it keeps them off the field and allows them to rest.

With the way Ezekiel Elliott’s contract aged for the Cowboys, it’s understandable that fans may have reservations about investing heavily in a running back. However, the counter-argument can be that having a running back on a rookie contract who also hasn’t experienced the wear and tear of the NFL makes a lot of sense.

While fans should agree that paying Elliott was not a wise decision by the front office, drafting him wasn’t a bad choice. Drafting him helped take a team that went from the fourth pick in the NFL draft to the number one seed in the NFC in just one season. Obviously the surprising production of fourth-round pick Dak Prescott had an impact on that as well, but having an elite running back made his job as a rookie much easier.

The Cowboys will have plenty of good options at pick 12 in the 2025 NFL Draft. They may even have prospects available that they have ranked higher on their draft board than Jeanty. However, if the Cowboys truly believe that Jeanty is among the best players in the draft, they shouldn’t shy away from selecting him simply because it would be selecting a running back in the first round. Saquon Barkley is proving to the NFL that having an elite running back in the backfield can be the X-Factor for a team looking to make a deep playoff run.