{"id":37146,"date":"2025-02-26T14:36:24","date_gmt":"2025-02-26T14:36:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=37146"},"modified":"2025-02-26T14:36:24","modified_gmt":"2025-02-26T14:36:24","slug":"stay-or-go-cowboys-free-agency-edition-rico-dowdle-might-be-dallas-only-option-at-rb","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=37146","title":{"rendered":"Stay or go, Cowboys free agency edition: Rico Dowdle might be Dallas’ only option at RB"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Feb. 26, 2025<\/p>\n

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Updated 6:00 a.m. CST<\/p>\n

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Dallas Cowboys running back Rico Dowdle (23) is brought down by Washington Commanders linebacker Frankie Luvu (4) during the first half of an NFL football game at AT&T Stadium on Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025, in Arlington.(Smiley N. Pool \/ Staff Photographer)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Now that Super Bowl LIX is in the books, NFL teams are quickly shifting focus toward two key aspects of the offseason: the draft and free agency.<\/p>\n

After a 7-10 finish, the Dallas Cowboys have a long list of players hitting the market in a few weeks. In this series, we\u2019ll offer a breakdown of the Cowboys\u2019 upcoming free agents and why they may or may not continue their playing careers in Dallas.<\/p>\n

Our series continues with perhaps one of the only bright spots from last season\u2019s offense.<\/p>\n

Name\/position:<\/b> Rico Dowdle\/Running back<\/p>\n

Age\/Experience:<\/b> 26\/4 seasons (Signed as UDFA by Dallas in 2020)<\/p>\n

2024 contract:<\/b> 1-year, $1.26 million contract signed prior to last season<\/p>\n

Market value:<\/b> 1 year\/$6.2 million (per Spotrac)<\/p>\n

Summary:<\/b> With all the problems the Cowboys’ offense had to worry about in 2024 \u2014 injuries, ineptitude, the downfall of Ezekiel Elliott \u2014 Dowdle was one of the only positives. He started 15 games and logged his first career 1,000-yard season just in time to hit free agency.<\/p>\n

Why he might stay: <\/b>Dowdle\u2019s homegrown. <\/b>The Cowboys took a chance on him as an undrafted rookie free agent, and it paid off. Dowdle finally got his chance to be the Cowboys’ starting running back in 2024 \u2014 and he seized it.<\/p>\n

Not to mention … the Cowboys don\u2019t really have any other prospects at running back right now. The only true RB under contract for 2025 in Dallas is Deuce Vaughn and his 40 career carries. There could be a running back in the draft they trust to carry the load in his rookie season, a tall task, but otherwise Dowdle might be the best option. Possibly the only one.<\/p>\n

Why he might go:<\/b> Dowdle timed this pretty well.<\/p>\n

He\u2019s hitting free agency right after posting his career-best season, and there might be more money on the open market than the Cowboys are willing or able to give him.<\/p>\n