Alfred Morris Primed for a Career Resurgence with the Cowboys
After experiencing a major drop-off in production in 2015, Alfred Morris joins the Cowboys primed for a bounce back season.
On Mar. 22, news broke that running back Alfred Morris was signing with the Dallas Cowboys after playing the first four years of his career with division rival Washington.
The Cowboys got Morris on a cheap two-year, $3.5 million deal, with a chance to earn up to $5.5 million.
Despite rushing for 1,000 yards three out of the last four seasons, Washington felt it was time to move on from the 27-year-old workhorse.
More from NFL Mocks
- 2024 NFL Mock Draft Journal: Cardinals, Falcons tank for USC QB Caleb Williams
- Patriots News & Rumors: Ezekiel Elliott talks fun in Foxboro; Mills to Packers?
- Fantasy Football: 5 reasons Colts QB Anthony Richardson can be a top-end option
- Packers’ Lukas Van Ness will make a Lambeau leap into the NFL in 2023
- 2024 NFL Draft: Hunter Haas’ Top 50 Big Board
And who can blame them? Morris just experienced his worst year as a pro, yielding significant carries to youngsters Chris Thompson and Matt Jones. He set new career-lows in rushing yards (751), touchdowns (one), and average yards per carry (3.7).
With a pair of promising backs in Thompson and Jones, there was no real reason to keep Morris, who’s best days look to be in the rearview mirror.
Well, you know what they say: one man’s trash is another man’s treasure, and Dallas might have just found a real gem in Morris.
While he likely won’t start for the Cowboys, the fifth-year veteran looks primed for a nice bounce back campaign.
Morris’ career started off with a bang in 2012, rushing for 1,613 yards and 13 scores. His numbers have slowly decreased since his historic rookie year and completely fell off this past season.
Armed with the best offensive line in football, Dallas could care less about Morris’ struggles in 2015.
The former fourth-overall pick in 2008, Darren McFadden joined the team last offseason with hopes of reviving his seemingly lifeless career. After receiving minimal carries through roughly the first quarter of the season, McFadden stepped in and enjoyed the most productive stretch of his eight-year tenure in the league.
From week seven on, the player many viewed as another Oakland Raider draft bust averaged 5.0 yards per carry and totaled 960 yards on the ground.
No other O-line can work that type of magic on running backs and it could be Morris that finds greater success with the Cowboys, for a few reasons.
One man’s trash is another man’s treasure, and Dallas might have just found a real gem in Morris.
He produced at a high level for a good chunk of his time in Washington despite being surrounded by mediocre talent. A powerful 5-foot-10, 224-pounder, Morris is a proven red zone threat and chain-mover, and has yet to miss a single game since he entered the NFL.
McFadden has a bit more pop to his game right now, but he may end up splitting a few more carries than previously expected to a back that is just as capable of excelling behind such a dominant offensive line.
However the team wants to handle the situation at tailback, Jerry Jones, Jason Garrett and Co. can rest easy knowing that the position is solidified now that an experienced, productive, and driven Morris is ready to go in the stable.