The Dallas Cowboys might find it advantageous to acquire a seasoned running back with two Super Bowl victories to his name. Suggested by Kristopher Knox of Bleacher Report, the Cowboys could potentially benefit from signing Jerick McKinnon, formerly of the Kansas City Chiefs, who remains a free agent. McKinnon, aged 32, has spent the last three seasons in Kansas City as a secondary running back. Knox contends that McKinnon’s strength lies in his ability to catch passes, a skill that Dallas could utilize in the upcoming 2024 season.
Described as a versatile change-of-pace and receiving back, McKinnon could play a valuable role in the Cowboys’ rotation. Knox notes McKinnon’s success as a pass-catcher with the Chiefs, where he accumulated 94 regular-season receptions over the past three years. Additionally, McKinnon has proven his worth in playoff games, participating in seven postseason matches for the Chiefs during the same period, including starting all three games in 2021. He showcased his receiving abilities by making 14 catches for 165 yards and one touchdown during the Chiefs’ postseason run in 2021, ranking third in receptions and receiving yards among all Chiefs players, behind only Travis Kelce and Tyreek Hill.
Despite McKinnon’s age and specialized skill set as a pass-catching back, he could be acquired at a reasonable rate, which aligns with the Cowboys’ salary cap situation. With $4.5 million in projected cap space, the Cowboys might consider McKinnon, especially since they were unable to sign Derrick Henry due to salary cap limitations, as admitted by Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones.
However, while McKinnon’s addition seems appealing due to his receiving abilities and playoff experience, signing him would mean adding a third veteran running back to the roster, alongside recent acquisitions Royce Freeman and Ezekiel Elliott, who holds the highest number of career rushing attempts among active running backs. Furthermore, McKinnon’s extensive experience since joining the league in 2014, coupled with his age, makes him one of the oldest backs in the league if he signs with a team in 2024.
Considering the Cowboys’ current roster depth, which includes returning backs like Deuce Vaughn, Rico Dowdle, and Malik Davis, it’s unlikely that Dallas will sign McKinnon before the season begins. However, if injuries occur either before or during the regular season, the possibility of signing McKinnon becomes more plausible.
