The Dallas Cowboys are in need of a running back this offseason. Could they try and swipe one from an NFC East division rival?
The gambling site EmpireStakes.com lists the Cowboys among the favorites to sign New York Giants halfback Saquon Barkley this offseason, as they are tied for the seventh-best odds at +1200.
The Giants are the favorites to retain Barkley at +200.
Dallas was hopeful that Tony Pollard would establish himself as the club’s clear featured back this season, but he was disappointing, averaging a pedestrian four yards per carry. As a result, the Cowboys are considered a likely landing spot for any one of the top free-agent running backs this spring.
Barkley will be one of the top offensive playmakers available, although he is coming off of a rather shoddy 2023 campaign in which he rushed for 962 yards and six touchdowns while averaging a meager 3.9 yards per carry. He also missed three games due to an ankle injury.
The 26-year-old, who played his collegiate football at Penn State, was selected by New York with the second overall pick of the 2018 NFL Draft.
He enjoyed a spectacular rookie campaign, racking up 1,307 yards and 11 touchdowns while logging a robust five yards per attempt. He also hauled in 91 receptions for 721 yards and four scores.
Since then, Barkley has been hampered by injuries, as he has not played a full season since his rookie year. In 2022, Barkley was able to post 1,312 yards and 10 scores in 16 games, so when healthy, he remains an elite rusher, but actually staying on the field is a major question mark for the Bronx, N.Y. native.
The Cowboys went 12-5 this season but ultimately lost to the Green Bay Packers in the Wild Card Round of the playoffs. Perhaps adding someone like Saquon Barkley into the fold could help bolster Dallas’ offense to the point where it can finally get over its postseason hump. The Cowboys would also be sticking it to the Giants in the process.
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