Cowboys Draft RB Rumor: What If It’s Jahmyr Gibbs, Not Bijan Robinson?

The Dallas Cowboys have been rumored to be interested in Texas Longhorns star Bijan Robinson, but what if Dallas takes a different running back in Alabama's Jahmyr Gibbs?

Author:
Adam Schultz
Publish date:
Apr 21, 2023 11:01 AM EDT

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Dallas Cowboys

The Dallas Cowboys have long thought to be in the market for Texans Longhorns running back Bijan Robinson. A thorn in the side of concept is that Dallas has the No. 26 pick in the draft, and Robinson will likely be snapped up by then.

There have been theories about the Cowboys trading up to get Robinson, and CowboysSi.com has already explained what would be needed for that to happen .. .and it's a king’s ransom, especially for a running back.

But there might not be a need to trade up in this year's draft. Good Morning Football's Peter Schrager delivered his first NFL mock draft for NFL.com, and he has the Cowboys taking a running back with their first pick ... but it isn't Robinson, as the Philadelphia Eagles already take him at No. 10.

Schrager has Alabama star Jahmyr Gibbs coming to The Star.

The Cowboys have an incredibly strong track record when it comes to recent first-round picks: WR CeeDee Lamb and LB Micah Parsons have both made the past two Pro Bowls, while OL Tyler Smith showed plenty of promise in Year 1, Schrager writes. After the release of former No. 4 overall pick Ezekiel Elliott, Dallas has room for another back. With Bijan Robinson off the board, Jerry Jones and Co. scoop up the explosive Gibbs.

Many have Gibbs as the second-best running back in the draft behind Robinson, and his skill set gives him a good chance to settle quickly into Mike McCarthy's west coast offense.

Gibbs possesses lightning-quick feet, a devastating change of direction, is outstanding in the open field, and he is a speed burner that Dallas needs (he ran a 4.39 40-yard dash). His route running also adds another level to his game with will no doubt interest the Cowboys.

The Alabama standout runs good, crisp routes that let him get separation, and then he can go about his work in the open field. For coach Nick Saban's team last year, Gibbs totaled 926 rushing yards and seven touchdowns while going at 6.1 yards a carry (same as Robinson).

Gibbs also caught 44 passes for 444 yards and three touchdowns, as his ability to be a dual-threat back could have Dallas eyeing him off in the first round.

Some compare the two backs and have Bijan levels above Gibbs, but Robinson had over 100 more carries than Gibbs last season.

And ... If we average out Gibbs' yards per carry and have him rush as many times as Robinson, he would have finished the season with 1,578 yards.

That is just two rushing yards behind Bijan. That, in theory, would work … as Gibbs who some think might be a second-round guy) would work in combination in Dallas with Tony Pollard.

So, while many are fixated on Robinson coming to Frisco (and rightly so), should the Longhorns star be off the board when Dallas picks, Gibbs presents an alternative that some could argue may have just as good a chance of becoming a star in the NFL as Bijan.