In a glaring example of the devaluation of the running back position in today’s NFL, the Dallas Cowboys apparently have a four-year, $16 million deal on the table for upcoming free agent running back DeMarco Murray.
Murray, a former third-round pick out of Oklahoma, had shown signs of not being able to shoulder the load in the offensive backfield prior to a breakout 2014 campaign that saw him rack up nearly 500 touches, postseason included.
This past regular season saw Murray lead the NFL in rush attempts (392), rushing yards (1,845), rushing touchdowns (13) and total yards (2,261). He’s a top-tier candidate for NFL Offensive Player of the Year and was one of the primary reasons that Dallas finished the regular year with a 12-4 record, its best season since 2007.
Those numbers listed above may very well be eye-opening. But it’s also important to take into account the Cowboys offensive line, which features three Pro Bowlers and was the best run-blocking unit in the entire league this past regular season. While stopping short of saying that any marginal running back could produce similar numbers, the Cowboys must have confidence that they can find a cheaper alternative to Murray.
Even with the devaluation of the running back position in recent seasons, the $16 million offer over four seasons seems to be just a bit out of whack. A prime example of this would be the three-year, $10.5 million contract Toby Gerhart signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars last offseason. Needless to say, he didn’t have the track record of success that Murray has.
Another factor here is the likelihood that Dallas will place the franchise tag on wide receiver Dez Bryant, which would put the team behind the proverbial eight-ball in relation to the salary cap. A cap that Jerry Jones and company have struggled managing in recent seasons. It seems unlikely that the Cowboys would be able to sign both Murray and Bryant to long-term extensions. And in today’s NFL, it makes more sense to choose the star receiver over the star running back.
Photo: Huffington Post