Cowboys take familiar route to find next franchise running back in early 2025 NFL mock draft

The Dallas Cowboys bringing back Ezekiel Elliott is a unique, cool story to see play out since he started his career on a dominant run with them. 

Bringing back Elliott came with the realization that he is no longer the running back that is good for 1,000 yards a season every year. Elliott will give the Cowboys a capable running back to eat up carries as part of a committee.

Dallas needs a starting running back answer in 2025 and beyond after not addressing it in the 2024 NFL Draft. Our very own Travis May here at A to Z Sports has the answer for the Cowboys in his way-too-early 2025 NFL mock draft.

25. Dallas Cowboys: Quinshon Judkins, RB Ohio State

“Ohio State easily has the best backfield in the nation for 2024. They already brought back TreVeyon Henderson, but then they decided to steal Quinshon Judkins from Ole Miss too. Judkins has over 3000 yards from scrimmage and 34 touchdowns in his first two collegiate seasons. He may be even better than his elite teammate, Henderson. The Cowboys don't have a long-term answer at running back on their roster right now. They'll almost certainly grab one early in the 2025 NFL Draft.” - Travis May, A to Z Sports

Judkins has been super productive in the SEC the last two years against some of the best football players in college football. As a freshman, he rattled off 1,567 yards to be a Freshman All-American and recorded 1,157 rushing yards in his sophomore year. In 26 career games, Judkins has 31 touchdowns, as he is often in the end zone just like the last Buckeye that the Cowboys drafted.

In 2024, we will see Judkins’ production fall off a bit because he will split carries with TreVeyon Henderson, another early-round draft prospect for the next draft cycle.

Elliott cleared 1,300 yards in three of his first four seasons with the Cowboys, the only one he did not is when he played in 10 games in 2017 and had 98 yards.

Drafting Judkins would give Dallas their running back of the future to pair with offensive talents like CeeDee Lamb, Jake Ferguson, and Dak Prescott.

The last time the Cowboys went to Ohio State in the first round for a running back it worked out well, perhaps the second time can be a repeat.