Should the Dallas Cowboys Draft Ezekiel Elliott?

What happens when you pair the NFL’s best offensive line with a once in a generation talent at running back? The Cowboys have a chance to find out.

The 2015 Dallas Cowboys were a darn good 4-12 team.

Now, that might sound a bit odd, but when you consider that seven of those 12 losses were by ten points or less, a clearer picture of the Cowboys’ season starts to take form.

Those competitive contests were also carried out with some mediocre talent, as well.

The Cowboys were plagued by injuries all throughout last season. Premier slot-cornerback Orlando Scandrick went down with a torn ACL and MCL in training camp, Tony Romo was out for all but four games due to a troublesome collarbone injury, Dez Bryant played in just nine contests (clearly playing injured in nearly all), and scat-back Lance Dunbar tore his left ACL in Week Four.

All significant injuries, all too much for the Boys’ to overcome, resulting in a lowly four-win record and the fourth-overall pick in the NFL Draft.

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Barring any major setbacks, the players mentioned should be ready for training camp to begin their respective comeback seasons.

With many pieces already in place for a nice 2016 campaign, and possibly a deep playoff run, what should Jerry Jones do with the team’s first-round pick?

In the Cowboys’ case, there are seemingly endless possibilities.

The first choice would have to be selecting former Ohio State standout Joey Bosa, who’d fill a need on the defensive line.

How about Florida State’s Jalen Ramsey? He’s long, athletic, and versatile, fully capable of playing either safety or cornerback.

Or, given Romo’s tough time with injuries as of late, maybe drafting a future franchise quarterback is the answer.

While all are viable options, there’s one choice that Jones and the Cowboys should make.

Since Demarco Murray and his 2014 league-leading 1,845 rushing-yards left last offseason, the team has been in dire need of a running back to line up behind Dallas’ young, dominant offensive line.

Veteran Darren McFadden was serviceable in 2015, but not starter material. The troubled Joseph Randle was released midseason, and, as mentioned earlier, Lance Dunbar was sidelined with a torn ACL early on.

Delving into the free agency pool would likely result in overpaying for a back like Doug Martin or Lamar Miller, so the draft stands as a more realistic option to find a true difference-making back.

And the Cowboys need not look any further for that difference-maker than Ezekiel Elliott.

Nov 28, 2015; Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes running back Ezekiel Elliott (15) runs the ball in for a touchdown in the third quarter against the Michigan Wolverines at Michigan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports /

The former Buckeye has all the tools necessary to perform at the highest level in the NFL. He’s the most talented at his position in the draft and even though taking running backs in the first-round is somewhat viewed as taboo, Elliott is more than worth it.

An all-around, complete player, there are no real weaknesses in Elliott’s game. He jumps out of the gym, can pound the rock inside or cut to the outside, possesses great field-vision, and his patience and toughness are rivaled by few in the entire draft.

Elliott even has soft hands and blocks with the best of them, something not many young backs really excel at. Regardless of the team or scheme, Elliott is already suited to take on a 20-30 carry workload.

Heck, the man even wants to play in Dallas, saying as much back on Feb. 5.

"“The Dallas Cowboys (are my pick). I want to go play behind that great offensive line they have down in Dallas,” Elliott said during an interview on NFL Network."

The Cowboys finished with the No. 9 rushing attack in the league and inserting a premier, true three-down back like Elliott behind that O-line would be something to behold.

And with so many options to choose from, why not trade-back, garner an extra pick or two, and select the rookie-rusher a little later on?

Dallas is built to win now and Elliott could be that missing piece to the team’s championship puzzle.

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