How Zeke and the Dallas Cowboys Rejuvenated the Running Back

Two of five RB’s selected in the top of this year’s draft, and that is something Jerry Jones can take credit for

Jani-King

The 2017 NFL Draft has came and gone. As the hot takes, analysis, opinions, trends, and everything else come in, the NFL football fan should have plenty to tide them over for about a month. As many look to the future and how their team performed in the draft, this seems like a perfect time to look back into the past.

In the NFL Draft, there were two running backs selected in the top 10: Leonard Fournette to Jacksonville at pick No. 4 and Christian McCaffrey at No. 8 to the Carolina Panthers. The second round even saw 3 tailbacks taken. The very controversial Joe Mixon went to the Bengals at No. 48 overall, former Florida State Seminole Dalvin Cook to the Minnesota Vikings No. 41, and the dual threat RB/WR combo in Curtis Samuel will join McCaffrey in Carolina. In case you are keeping track, that’s five running backs across the first two rounds and more specifically, the first 48 picks of the draft.

Chicago Tribune

According to DraftHistory.com, there have only been three running backs taken in the first round over the last five years. If you look a little bit deeper into the details, the only two taken in the top five were the Dallas Cowboys’ Ezekiel Elliott and the infamous Trent Richardson. After Richardson went No. 3 overall to the Browns in 2012, running backs seemingly had no chance of cracking the first round unless they were labeled a ‘freak of nature’ like Todd Gurley. Think about this: even the Pittsburg Steelers all-world back in Le’Veon Bell went in the second round of the 2013 NFL Draft. What does this mean? Looking at the trends of the draft since 2012 and after considering last year’s success of the No. 4 pick Ezekiel Elliot, it’s safe to say the the Cowboys have helped make drafting a runner early sexy again.

Youtube.com

What success, you ask? If you didn’t know, Zeke rushed for over 1,600 yards last season and added about another 350 in receiving yards. Yeah, almost 2,000 all-purpose yards as a rookie. Not only was he a menace with the rock in his hands, but he was great in the all-around aspects of the game — blocking, the nuances, and simply making the right plays for his team. It doesn’t hurt that he operated behind arguably the most dominant line in football, but he did his fair share of work. He toted the load and even some opponents if need be, but was also able to show that break away track star speed in open space. Call him an anomaly, call him a one-year wonder, or even a product of a dominant line. What you can’t call him is unsuccessful in year one. His and the Cowboys success has helped rejuvenate the running back.