This 2025 Cowboys position group was named the weakest in the entire NFL

Every roster has unique strengths and weaknesses they'll have to deal with over the course of an NFL offseason. The hope is that after an effective free agency period and a competent draft season, the weaknesses get properly addressed while the strengths get maintained. For the Dallas Cowboys, 2025 presented more than a few opportunities for improvement.

On defense those opportunities came at defensive end, linebacker and cornerback. On offense they were found at receiver and interior offensive line. Overall, the Cowboys had a surprisingly solid offseason featuring abnormal free agency spending and highly opportunistic selections in the 2025 NFL draft. Amidst all the upgrades, replacements and down-roster fortifications the Cowboys struggled to clearly improve in one major area of weakness and the national media has now called them out on it.

Despite significant churn by way of free agency and the draft, the Cowboys' running back situation continues to be a point of contention heading into the new league year. Dalton Wasserman at Pro Football Focus recently named the Cowboys RB room the weakest in the NFL after free agency and the draft.

The retooled Dallas backfield cycled out Rico Dowdle and Ezekeil Elliott, their top two ball carriers from 2024, and brought in veterans Javonte Williams and Miles Sanders to take their place. The draft added two more options with speedster Jaydon Blue and battering ram Phil Mafah, leaving young incumbents Hunter Luepke and Deuce Vaughn to duke it out with everyone for roster spots.

While the new additions have the potential to significantly upgrade the unit, that type of outcome is far from a foregone conclusion, requiring multiple players to outperform previous standard of play. As Mike Crum recently detailed in his NFC East RB room rankings, the Cowboys ball carriers are in the cellar of the division for good reason.

Williams has averaged no better than 3.7 yards per carry over the last two years in Denver, Sanders has averaged less than 3.5 yards per carry himself, Blue is a fifth rounder with fumble problems, Mafah is steady but unspectacular, Luepke is more fullback and tight end than true running back, and Vaughn can't even manage to get on the field. All things considered the national media and Crum have good reason to be suspicious of the Cowboys backfield heading into the new season.

Best hope at silencing Cowboys' critics?

Most will agree Blue, the rookie out of Texas, has the best chance at elevating the group. Blessed with special speed and quickness, Blue is a factor in both the running and passing game. He's a gamebreaker who fits multiple running schemes and brings sky-high potential.

Mafah, his fellow rookie, also brings some potential sizzle to the room. As a 6-foot-1, 230-pound one-cut runner, Mafah fits much of what Brian Schottenheimer wants to bring to the running game. His punishing running style is complementary addition to Blue, much like the veteran Williams, who projects as an ideal third-down RB. It's these three with the most upside and Blue, specifically, who could push the unit over the top.

All about that Cowboys O-line

Great offensive lines have a way of making pedestrian RBs look great, so it's important the Cowboys' big guys upfront take massive steps in their own improvement this season. Maturation from Tyler Guyton and the instant impact of first round rookie Tyler Booker could do wonders for the Dallas ground game.

Only time will tell if the Cowboys RB room is really as poor as some think it is but there's enough unknown and potential in the room to give cause for optimism.

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This article originally appeared on Cowboys Wire: This 2025 Cowboys position group named the worst in entire NFL