2 RBs Cowboys should have drafted instead of released Blue, Mafah

Hindsight is 20-20, and this is especially true when contemplating the NFL draft. Dallas Cowboys recently released two of their 2025 draft picks, Jaydon Blue and Phil Mafah, from their initial 53-man roster. It seems fitting to ponder what might have been with these running backs. Neither were picked up by the practice squad either, making them clear draft misses for the Cowboys.

The Cowboys had consistent needs and opportunities at the running back position over the past two years. A running back two (RB2) was within reach each time, but neither player provided adequate reasons for consideration. Were these missed opportunities indicative of a larger issue with the team's drafting strategy?

Kyle Monangai, selected 84 picks behind Jaydon Blue, was a Rutgers running back who stood at 5-foot-8 and 211 pounds. Though perceived as a polarizing prospect, Dane Brugler graded him above both Blue and Mafah. However, the Cowboys prioritized speed and upside over Monangai's reliability. As a seventh-round draft pick for the Chicago Bears, Monangai managed to amass 783 yards and five touchdowns. His success rate on runs was a robust 50 percent, compared to Blue's meager 36.8 percent from 129 yards.

The last running back selected in the 2025 NFL Draft was Jacory Croskey Merritt from Arizona. Standing at 5-foot-10 and 208 pounds, he possessed impressive stop-start ability and game-breaking traits. As a sixth-year senior entering the NFL, his size and age likely worked against him for scouts. A seventh-round pick of the Washington Commanders, Croskey Merritt managed to rush for 805 yards and eight touchdowns in his rookie season, boasting a nearly 54 percent success rate. The Cowboys' decision to draft Phil Mafah over Croskey Merritt proved to be a regrettable one.