10:15am: Morris’ two-year deal is fairly modest, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com, who tweets that the contract has a base value of $3.5MM and can be worth up to $5.5MM.
8:45am: After hosting him for a visit on Monday, the Cowboys are signing free agent running back Alfred Morris, reports Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (via Twitter). Per agent Sean Stellato (via Schefter), it’ll be a two-year deal for Morris in Dallas.
A sixth-round pick in the 2012 draft, Morris made an immediate impact during his rookie season in Washington, amassing the third-most carries in the NFL (335) and finishing second in both rushing yards (1,613) and touchdowns (13). Morris declined the next two years, though he was still a productive workhorse, with at least 265 carries, 1,000 yards and seven TDs in both seasons.
The wheels came off a little in 2015, however, as the 224-pounder recorded personal worsts in carries (202), rushing yards (751), yards per attempt (3.7) and scores (one). Despite his statistical drop-off last season, which coincided with the arrival of 2015 third-rounder Matt Jones, it’s worth noting that Morris played – and started – all 16 games for a fourth consecutive season.
By signing with the Cowboys, Morris will be joining a team against whom he has had plenty of success over the years — his 710 career rushing yards and seven touchdowns against Dallas are easily the most he has put up against a single opponent.
The Cowboys may still add a running back in the draft, but the way the team’s depth chart currently stacks up, it appears Morris and Darren McFadden will shoulder the majority of the rushing load, with Lance Dunbar serving as the primary pass-catcher out of the backfield.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
How many RB’s do the Cowboys need? They already had two capable runners in McFadden and Dunbar.
To be fair, McFadden has a pretty extensive injury history, and Dunbar is coming off a major injury of his own. Most teams rotate two or three backs in pretty frequently, so I don’t think the Cowboys are particularly stacked at the position.
Mcfadden was healthy for most of last season because of that oline.
OMG 3 RBs on the roster its not like every other team in the NFL has at least that many
I wanted Ezekiel
still a chance.
Jalen Ramsey at 4 would look really good with Jones they got in last years draft in their secondary
the Cowboys will draft Bosa.
At this point I think it’s either Ramsey or Myles Jack
I agree Ramsey or Jack Cowboys need playmakers on defense.