10:08am: McFadden’s two-year deal can be worth up to $5.85MM, and includes a modest $200K signing bonus, tweets Todd Archer of ESPNDallas.com.
9:38am: A day after losing the NFL’s leading rusher to their division rivals in Philadelphia, the Cowboys are set to sign a free agent running back of their own, albeit one who won’t replicate DeMarco Murray‘s production. According to Charean Williams of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram (via Twitter), the club has agreed to terms on a two-year deal for former Raiders running back Darren McFadden, pending a physical.
McFadden, 27, was selected fourth overall by the Raiders back in 2008 out of Arkansas. Outside of a 2010 campaign in which he posted 1,157 rushing yards and added another 507 yards through the air, McFadden has never been able to stay healthy and put it all together for a full season. 2014 was the first year in which he played all 16 games for Oakland, but he was underwhelming, averaging just 3.4 yards per carry, his third straight season with a mark of 3.4 or lower.
In Dallas, McFadden should have an opportunity for a fresh start behind perhaps the league’s best offensive line. Although Murray certainly has plenty of talent, that offensive line played a significant part in his massive 2014 numbers, so if McFadden can stay on the field, Dallas looks like a nice spot for him.
Assuming things get finalized with McFadden, the Cowboys likely won’t add any other notable free agent running backs to the mix, opting instead to address the position in the draft. The club currently has Joseph Randle and Ryan Williams under contract, with a restricted free agent tender assigned to Lance Dunbar.
What? WHY??
If only he was as good as he was at Arkansas. … Please Darren find the foundation of youth. … DC4L