Cowboys’ Jaydon Blue Pushed As Starter and NFL All-Rookie Team Running Back originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
A fifth-round draft pick starting over two proven veterans like Javonte Williams and Miles Sanders might have seemed far-fetched at the start of the offseason, but with each passing week, that possibility feels increasingly realistic for the Dallas Cowboys.
Rookie Jaydon Blue has impressed coaches and teammates alike throughout offseason workouts and now stands out as a dark horse contender not only for the Cowboys’ starting running back role but – we say – also as a legitimate candidate for the All-Rookie team.
That notion, Blue cracking the All-Rookie team, may initially sound out of the realm of possibility, especially with a deep and talented rookie running back class including names like Ashton Jeanty, Quinshon Judkins, and Omarion Hampton.
Yet, there are plenty of compelling reasons why Blue’s case deserves serious consideration.
Jaydon Blue arguably slid further down the draft board than his talent warranted. As the starting running back for a premier program like Texas, he demonstrated the versatility NFL teams crave, a back who can power through between the tackles and reliably catch passes out of the backfield. His draft stock, however, was impacted by two key factors: First, his rise to lead back didn’t generate the preseason buzz it might have, as he was stepping in for the injured C.J. Baxter rather than earning the starting role outright. Second, he shared carries in a deep Texas backfield loaded with talented backs like Quinshon Wisner and Jerrick Gibson, which naturally capped his statistical output.
His size — 5-9 and 195 pounds — isn’t the prototypical mold scouts often idealize for NFL running backs, but time and again we’ve seen players defy those norms and carve out successful, impactful careers. Physical stature doesn’t always tell the full story.
Blue possesses the tools and credentials to become the next Cowboys running back to make a name for himself. He flashed elite speed at the NFL Combine, running a blistering 4.38-second 40-yard dash. At just 21 years old, he’s already faced some of the toughest competition in college football in the SEC. Now, he finds himself competing against two veterans whose injury histories and waning production open the door for a new face in the backfield.
Projected preseason starter Javonte Williams tore his ACL, MCL, and PCL in 2022 after an impressive rookie campaign with 903 rushing yards. Since then, he has struggled to return to that level of performance. Meanwhile, the other veteran contender, Miles Sanders, has totaled just 647 rushing yards and seven starts over the past two seasons — a shadow of his prime.
This creates a unique opportunity for Jaydon Blue to position himself as the frontrunner in the Cowboys’ running back room — assuming he capitalizes on it (and barring a breakout from seventh-rounder Phil Mafah). Dallas has a strong track record of developing young, talented backs and trusting them to carry a significant workload early in their careers — just look at recent stars like Ezekiel Elliott and Tony Pollard.
Why not turn to Blue? He’s young, versatile, explosive, and represents a cost-effective rookie contract option. If he earns the majority of the starting reps and makes an early impact, landing an All-Rookie team spot becomes very plausible.
Unlike many rookie backs tasked with carrying a heavy load on struggling offenses, such as Jeanty with the Raiders or Judkins with the Browns — Blue will benefit from playing on a talented Cowboys team with playoff aspirations. Success at the individual award level often requires both strong personal production and team success. That combination could make Jaydon Blue the ultimate dark horse All-Rookie candidate, if the cards fall right.
If Dallas is intent on keeping its proud tradition alive and rejuvenating its ground game with fresh, dynamic legs, Jaydon Blue just might be the next name shining bright in star blue and silver.
Get more from Hayden Pustejovsky here.
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This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 4, 2025, where it first appeared.