Two offensive positions in particular offer significant depth and opportunities within the rotation to make an impact: running back and tight end. Unlike receiver, who is locked in by current and rising stars, and unlike offensive tackle, who rarely sees Day 3 players make instant impacts, tight end and running back could realistically see playing time in 2026 and beyond.
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Cowboys RB Outlook
At running back, the Cowboys have high hopes for the development of Phil Mafah and/or Jaydon Blue. They re-signed the highly effective Javonte Williams as a starter, and Mailk Davis is set to potentially back up again, but the Cowboys lack strength at the position and if Blue can’t be a reliable enough option, Dallas may need to look at some prospects to fill the need.
It’s perfectly conceivable that a rookie running back could be promoted to RB2 as early as Week 1. If that prospect can show reliability in pass protection and breaking speed with the ball in his hands, he’ll have a clear advantage over the competition.
The size of the contribution at running back appears to come down to the type of running back the Cowboys draft.
Cowboys TE Prospect
The Cowboys’ top three tight ends are Jake Ferguson, Luke Schoonmaker and Brevyn Spann-Ford. Ferguson is the complete starter with a special connection to QB Dak Prescott and a role set in stone. Schoonmaker is an underperforming draft pick in the final year of his rookie contract. Spann-Ford is, at the moment, a one-dimensional blocker who needs to improve as a pass catcher. Opportunities abound.
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In an ultra-deep tight end class, the Cowboys could easily find a Day 3 prospect who slides directly into the rotation as a TE2. Spann-Ford may already be the best blocking tight end in the NFL, but he needs to prove himself as a pass catcher before he can move much further up the depth chart.
According to all three, whoever the Day 3 pick is will have to offer more than just blocking. A full traditional Y-TE would be best suited to make an instant impact. If a rookie can come in and do what Schoonmaker was supposed to do, he could see opportunities early on. He would even be positioned for a long-term role as a possible replacement for Ferguson in the future.
That said, even a one-dimensional pass catcher with run-after-catch ability could see primary action in 2026. The Cowboys don’t have a creator at the TE position and could easily develop game plans to utilize a skill currently missing from the lineup. Go ahead and remove the one-dimensional blockers from the list.
Verdict
The Cowboys’ running back room likely offers the most opportunities given the quality of everyone behind Williams on the depth chart. However, the elite depth of the tight end class in 2026 means the Cowboys have a better chance of finding a top pure prospect. Both positions offer short- and long-term promise, but running back is the easier transition of the two when evaluating the jump from college to the NFL.
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The runner wins by a hair.
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This article originally appeared on Cowboys Wire: Drafting Day 3 TE or RB: Biggest opportunity for Cowboys to contribute?