Could Elliott to Cowboys Happen at No. 4 Overall?

I have two non-negotiable rules when it comes to the NFL draft: don’t risk your team’s future for one pick and don’t take a running back in the top 5. It seems the 2016 NFL draft will be an aggravating experience for me.

The Rams and Eagles already put their futures on hold to take the best of the disappointingly mediocre quarterbacks available in this class and now reports indicate that the Cowboys could take Ohio State’s Ezekiel Elliott with the No. 4 overall pick in the draft.

Bleacher Report’s Jason Cole recently reported that if Jerry Jones gets his way the Cowboys will take Elliott with that 4th overall pick. However at a more recent press conference Jones said he felt the team was set at the running back position, but that he would not rule out taking the Ohio State prospect.

At that same press conference the outspoken owner’s son and the team’s executive vice president, Stephen Jones, said the team felt Elliott was worth a top 10 pick, though he did not sound particularly attached to Elliott. Reports confirmed by the team have also indicated that trading down currently seems unlikely since the Eagles moved up to 2nd overall.

For some, this pick makes sense because Elliott is a really solid prospect who would fit into an offense that did best when it featured DeMarco Murray. Elliott is also similar to Murray in his play style, having some of the best hands at the running back position in this draft.

All that being said, the Cowboys would be crazy to take Elliott that early. Running backs just aren’t worth that high of a price in this league because they can only play at an elite level for a small period of time and there’s really no telling how a running back will react to a scheme change.

Take DeMarco Murray for example. After being the offensive player of the year in Dallas he went to the Eagles as a free agent and he’s now a mediocre player on a good day. The key to a run game in today’s NFL is a solid offensive line, an investment the Cowboys have made time and time again.

With an offensive line strong enough to maintain a run game, the Cowboys have no reason to look at any running back this early. This roster is full of other holes worth filling too. Elliott’s teammate, Joey Bosa, is a player that would make sense here to create something of a pass rush on the Cowboys defensive line. Jalen Ramsey out of Florida State could work too, helping to build up a pretty weak secondary.

The fact of the matter in this draft and in any draft is that running backs are replaceable and eventually they’ll all wear down quicker than players of almost any other position. This happens to be a pretty deep draft at the position too so if the Cowboys really want a new workhorse they could get a bargain out of someone like Utah’s Devontae Booker or Louisiana Tech’s Kenneth Dixon in a later round.

The last running back to go top 5 was Trent Richardson who went 3rd overall to the Cleveland Browns.

Need I say more?