With Ezekiel Elliott holding out and no resolution in sight, the Dallas Cowboys went out and brought back fellow running back Alfred Morris, and former Cowboys scout Bryan Broaddus seems to think Dallas could also trade for another back.
Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk then named Washington Redskins running back Adrian Peterson as a possibility.
So, that raises the question: should the Cowboys consider trading for Peterson?
Well, for starters, Peterson has expressed interest in playing in Dallas in the past. Of course, that was several years ago, so it's possible that Peterson's desires have changed, and he seems pretty happy in Washington. But, there's that.
Second, if Elliott does indeed hold out through the season, is Morris really the guy the Cowboys want to hitch their wagon to?
Morris was a terrific running back early on in his career, but that was a very short stretch, as he has been less-than-stellar for the last four seasons. He is nothing more than a backup at this point, but with Dallas not having any other options, he would be the No. 1 should Elliott sit out.
This isn't to say that Peterson is the elite running back that he once was, because he isn't, but he will almost surely be more productive than Morris in 2019 and is coming off of a 2018 campaign in which he rushed for 1,042 yards and seven touchdowns. Albeit, he averaged just 4.2 yards per carry, but behind the Cowboys' terrific offense line, perhaps he could be a bit more efficient in Dallas.
If Elliott does ultimately pull a Le'Veon Bell, Dallas' Super Bowl hopes will essentially vanish without a proper replacement. The Cowboys rely heavily on Elliott to pace their offense, and without him, they won't have much of a running game at all, which will put that much more pressure on Dak Prescott to be something he is not, which is a game-changing quarterback. I like Prescott, but realistically speaking, he is a glorified game manager.
So, yeah; if Elliott isn't around, Dallas is going to need to add another running back, and Peterson is a decent candidate.
The problem is, Peterson plays for the Redskins, and Washington probably won't be all that keen on helping a division rival. The Redskins probably aren't that attached to Peterson given that he is 34 years old and they are a rebuilding team, but trading him to the Cowboys, of all teams? It just doesn't seem that probable unless they make Dallas pay through the nose.
The Cowboys have been known to trade high draft picks for immediate help, but I'm not sure they would be willing to do that for an aging running back who hasn't been elite since 2015 and who has an extensive injury history.
If Washington is willing to send Peterson Dallas' way for a late draft pick and the Cowboys know Elliott's situation could drag on through the regular season, then it would be in Dallas' best interest to make a deal, but chances are, that won't happen.
The Redskins, knowing the Cowboys are desperate in addition to the fact that they play in the same division, would almost surely ask for more, and in that case, Dallas would likely not oblige.
The best thing for the Cowboys to do if they want to contend for a Super Bowl will be to give Elliott what he wants, but even in that case, you can understand Dallas' trepidation about not wanting to overpay for a running back.
Follow Us
Subscribe