It's no secret different teams value different traits in their running backs. Some teams prefer runners with elite speed, while others like extra power. Some target elusiveness and others look for a little bit of everything all mixed together. Since different offenses operate with different demands, there's no true right or wrong answer. As long as the scouting department does their job, there's always room for a good RB on a roster.
Heading into the 2025 NFL draft, the Dallas Cowboys find themselves looking for a RB. Under the Brian Schottenheimer offense Dallas will utilize a diverse running scheme mixing inside zone, outside zone and man concepts. They need a prospect who can do it all, and since the Cowboys are expected to be more run-heavy than in the past, they need someone who can play a big role on offense. Such demands could lead Dallas to target prospects with consistency and durability. Those may be the wrong traits to target.
As attractive as a high floor prospect with steady, yet unspectacular, results might seem, methodical drives can be a fool's errand in today's NFL. According to Pro Football Focus the chances of converting a single first down on series stands at 72 percent. Converting a second first down drops to 52 percent and a third falls all the way to 37 percent. Offenses need explosive plays to tilt the odds back in their favor because taking it 10 yards at a time is no way to score points these days.
Saquon Barkey ran himself to a Super Bowl trophy proving just that for the Eagles . In Barkey's first year in Philadelphia , he broke an NFL record hitting seven runs of 60 or more yards in the lead-up to the Super Bowl. It may surprise people to learn the Eagles were actually worse in success rate on the ground last season. Where Barkley really made the difference was his ability to rip off huge gains on explosives.
It just so happens explosive plays are one of the most stable statistics in prospects going from college to the pros. So not only is explosiveness a critical trait for a prospect to have, but it's also one of most predictable traits to project to the next level. It's the best of both worlds by being safe and impactful.
The Dallas depth chart currently features the likes of Javonte Williams , Miles Sanders , Deuce Vaughn and Hunter Luepke . Aside from Vaughn none are considered very explosive players and Vaughn's size issues may make his explosiveness a moot point if it prevents him from even getting on the field. It's very clear the Cowboys' RB room lacks explosiveness as it's currently constructed so if there is one trait the scouting department should add extra weight to this draft cycle that should be it.
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This article originally appeared on Cowboys Wire: The one trait the Cowboys must find when drafting a RB in 2025
