The full greatness of the 2016 Dallas Cowboys draft class has come at Cowboys Nation in waves. A starting core of Dak Prescott, Ezekiel Elliott, Anthony Brown, and Maliek Collins has Dallas at 11-2 on the season – with the future looking as bright as ever.
Until today, there was still hope that Jaylon Smith, Charles Tapper, Kavon Frazier, Rico Gathers, and Darius Jackson could also soon help put this draft class over the top. Now, Darius Jackson finds himself on the worst team in the league, claimed by the Browns after being released by the Cowboys to activate Darren McFadden.
Browns claimed promising rookie RB Darius Jackson on waivers one day after Dallas released him to make room for Darren McFadden, per source.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) December 14, 2016
I speculated earlier in the week about what McFadden’s return could mean to the Cowboys’ backfield, and welcomed with open arms the stability and depth he can provide to the running game here in December.
Jackson, a sixth round pick out of Eastern Michigan, was viewed as more long-term depth at running back for the Cowboys, who will have decisions to make on two veterans in McFadden and Alfred Morris in 2017.
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For now, Ezekiel Elliott is still without a doubt Dallas’ prized possession in the backfield, and little is going to change that for hopefully a very long time. As the Cowboys push on towards the playoffs, relying on their offensive line and running game, look for Elliott, McFadden, and Morris to get their fair share of touches.
Lance Dunbar will also be thrown out there every now and then (deserving or not), and Scott Linehan can envision a stable of running backs that will have any team worried about slowing down the Cowboys.
Unfortunately, Darius Jackson won’t be part of this mix now.
