2025 NFL Draft: Heisman runner-up Ashton Jeanty makes feelings known on Dallas Cowboys

Watching Ravens All-Pro Derrick Henry rush for 186 yards and two touchdowns against the Houston Texans gave Dallas Cowboys fans another look at what could have been if only Jerry Jones had picked up the phone to recruit the All-Pro running back to America's Team in the summer. The Cowboys stopped short of making any major moves in free agency despite a pretty dire need at RB and WR. Instead, they promoted Rico Dowdle to RB1 and brought Ezekiel Elliott back as his backup, only to release him after their regular season finale.

The 2025 NFL Draft will offer the Cowboys a chance to right last summer's wrongs. They hold the 12th overall pick in the draft and all season long, have only been linked with the consensus top running back in this year's class - Boise State's Ashton Jeanty.

The Heisman runner-up issued what can only be seen as a come-and-get-me plea during an interview with NBC.

“I would love to play for the Cowboys. It would be like a dream come true," Jeanty said.

"I used to play at their practice stadium in all our home games in high school. In my freshman year, when we came down here for the Frisco Bowl we practiced in there again. It would feel like home. I’m not going to say too much but Dallas have always had a good running back and when they have a good running back they play a lot better.”

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2025 NFL Mock Draft: Tony Pauline outlines why Cowboys should go with Ashton Jeanty

Over three mock drafts this season wherein the Cowboys went from having the 22nd pick early in the season to settling in at #12 overall, Sportskeeda's resident draft expert Tony Pauline has advocated for the Cowboys to go only and only with Jeanty.

Dallas will have to dish out a mammoth contract extension for Micah Parsons, tying their hands in case they decide to test the waters of free agency for a starting caliber running back. Drafting Jeanty, a special three-down player at the position, would allow the Cowboys to compete while having an electric, versatile ball carrier on a rookie contract, solving two problems in one fell swoop.