It was an ambitious endeavor, but we all know what they say about the best-laid plans. Back like it never left, the 777 Project spins forward to the thought exercise of what happens if the Dallas Cowboys were to select a RB in the first round. The last of the offensive positions being examined, running back is another non-Money 5 position that is the cause of plenty of debate.
Money 5 roles are quarterback, wide receiver, left tackle, edge rusher and cornerback. These are the spots that command top dollar in the NFL. Positions such as tight end, running back, offensive guard and safety are on the opposite end of the spectrum. The thinking goes that selecting one of these spots with a first-round pick wastes the surplus value of having a top player on a rookie contract.
Rookie contracts are based on draft slot; market value is based on positional importance and skill level. If you have a player at a high-value position on a rookie deal, that’s more of a positive than if they played a position that normally uses a smaller percentage of the salary cap.
But that’s just one argument. A counter is that good players are good players and several teams have been able to be contenders based on having elite talent at those afterthought positions. But can running back be one of them?
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