Cowboys could talk trade with Denver Broncos for running back
The Dallas Cowboys will be without their star running back, Ezekiel Elliott, for the next six games. Could they look to the Denver Broncos for help?
The Dallas Cowboys are going to need some running back help for the next six weeks, now that Ezekiel Elliott’s suspension has been upheld. With Elliott out for a big chunk of this team’s season, especially with the playoffs hanging in the balance during that time, who do the Denver Broncos have that could be of help?
Would the Broncos want to help?
The Broncos torched the Cowboys earlier this season, making Elliott look like a mere mortal as he rushed for just eight yards against the league’s best run defense.
That, however, was the exception to the rule, which is usually that Elliott is the one dominating opposing defenses, along with the Cowboys’ star-studded offensive line.
Anyone running behind that line should have success, and the Cowboys have a couple of veterans in Alfred Morris and Darren McFadden who are expected to share the load if Elliott’s suspension is in place immediately following the team’s bye week.
If the Cowboys aren’t confident in either of those two players, there are a couple of players on the Broncos that would make sense for Dallas to try and trade for, but does anyone really make sense for the Broncos to get rid of?
C.J. Anderson is the team’s leading rusher, and has proven extremely valuable as a running back and a blocker. I don’t think the Broncos are going to trade Anderson at this point in time, given how valuable he’s proven to be thus far.
It makes zero sense to trade Jamaal Charles, given the dynamic he adds to the offense with his speed and explosiveness, and the fact that he’s on a bargain price for the team.
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De’Angelo Henderson is a stud rookie who hasn’t played any in the offense yet this year due to the depth ahead of him, but he won’t be traded either because of the potential he has and the cost-effectiveness of keeping him on the team for the foreseeable future.
The one player the Broncos may be able to be coaxed into trading is second-year back Devontae Booker, who has some health concerns and is the third back in line to get carries behind Anderson and Charles.
Trading Booker would allow the Broncos to promote Jonathan Williams off the practice squad if they so desired, and potentially get Henderson some action in the offense.
I don’t know that any of those scenarios really make sense, though.
For the first time in a long time, it seems the Broncos have some enviable depth at the running back position, and there’s really no incentive to trading it away, except for the fact that a couple of players are coming back from injury (Jake Butt, Shane Ray) and will require a couple of open roster spots.
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If you can get good value for one of these backs, I might consider a trade. If I’m John Elway, though, I’d play hard-ball.