Dallas faces a backfield dilemma as trade rumors link James Conner to Big D. Discover why a veteran gamble might stall development for the roster's rising stars.
The Dallas Cowboys' running back room continues to be a fascinating topic of discussion.
Javonte Williams is the starter, but Jaydon Blue, Malik Davis, and Phil Mafah are the three who will enter the offseason with something to prove.
With the Cowboys' "Thunder and Lightning" plan for Williams and Blue, per our own Mike Fisher, a key piece of the plan in 2026, how Jaydon improves over the duration of the offseason is a big watch.
Malik was more than serviceable last season as Javonte's backup, and Mafah was untried for the majority of the year.
Given the uncertainty surrounding the players behind Williams, some want the Cowboys to go after a veteran back. We've seen Alvin Kamara, Nick Chubb, and even Tony Pollard as potential options.
But Sports Illustrated's Mike Moraitis has another -- James Conner.
"At the very least, the Cowboys need to add more veteran competition to the room," Moraitis wrote. "But if the Cowboys want more than that, Dallas should give the Arizona Cardinals a call for running back James Conner, who was dubbed a trade candidate by Pro Football Focus' Bradley Locker."
The first problem here is the "Rumor Telephone Game.'' PFF made up an ideal, with no sourcing. SI picked up the idea and pushed it further, with no sourcing.
And now it's "out there'' for fans who might be scratching their heads at it all.
Connor managed just three games last season as an ankle injury ended his year early, but he was coming off back-to-back 1,000-yard years in the two seasons prior.
How healthy is Connor, who is 31 years old, going to be? That is a concern.
What is also a concern is that Conner could be seen as a progress stopper for Blue, Davis, and Mafah. Each needs reps to prove themselves, and they wouldn't get that if Conner were signed.
But here is the big thing that I take issue with.
Is Dallas really going to part ways with draft capital (however small it is) for a running back who is on the wrong side of 30, plus is coming off a season-ending ankle injury?
I struggle to find that as a reasonable action on the Cowboys behalf, at least right now.
Does a veteran need to be signed? Right now, no.
But once training camp is underway and if the Cowboys don't see the progress they want from Blue, Mafah or Davis, then maybe a phone call could be made.
For Conner? His connection with former Arizona assistant Klayton Adams - now Dallas' offensive coordinator - is worth noting here. But so is my reiteration of the Cowboys' plan here. And at present, it's not about chasing backup running backs on their last NFL legs.
