The Dallas Cowboys had a plan prior to April’s NFL Draft. They would draft Ohio State running back Ezekiel Elliott, if he was still available fourth overall, and try to recreate the formula that led the Cowboys to a 12-4 record only two years ago behind the league’s leading rusher, DeMarco Murray.
The Cowboys knew they needed more immediate help defensively. And if quarterback Tony Romo and wide receiver Dez Bryant were healthy in 2015, they knew they would have likely won the NFC East for the second year in a row behind their talented offense. Still, Dallas believed adding a potentially dominate running back to their roster would help their defense much more than any one single rookie defender could.