Each week we will look at key players on the Dallas Cowboys 53-man roster, and this time we look at the NFL's leading rusher, DeMarco Murray.
2014 Stats: 51 rushing attempts, 285 yards (leads the NFL), 5.6 yards per attempt and two touchdowns.
Salary: $743K per season, free agent 2015
Career: Murray was drafted in the third round of the 2011 draft. He was the sixth overall running back selected behind Mark Ingram, Ryan Williams, Shane Vereen, Mikel Leshoure and Daniel Thomas. Murray's 2,966 career rushing yards rank first among his draft class. His 17 rushing touchdowns are third behind Cam Newton (28) and Stevan Ridley (21). According to Football Reference, Murray (25 AV) ranks 13th in value out of the entire draft class while teammate Tyron Smith ranks eighth (29 AV).
Injuries have plagued Murray's career. He only played in 13 games (seven starts) as a rookie in 2011, 10 games in 2012 and 14 games last season. Murray rushed for a career-high 1,121 yards in 2013 which marked the first time Dallas had a 1,000-yard rusher since Julius Jones in 2006. Murray should pass Jones (3,484 yards) on the all-time Cowboys rushing yards list this year. He is currently 10th on the list and could move as high as seventh on the list passing Herschel Walker (3,491) and Walt Garrison (3,886).
The Cowboys are 12-1 when Murray has 20 carries or more in a game.
2014 season:
Unless the Cowboys sign Murray to an extension during the season (all indications are they will not), he will be a free agent in the offseason. Yes, Murray is playing well through two games, but the Cowboys already know he is capable of being a top five running back when healthy. His health is the big question mark, and in today's NFL, the position is not held in the same regard as quarterback, left tackle or even wide receiver because of durability issues.
There hasn't been a running back to lead the league in two consecutive seasons in rushing yards since LaDainian Tomlinson in 2006 and 2007. Since 2010, 11 different running backs have finished in the top five in rushing. None of them finished in the top five more than two seasons in a row during that span, and only one running back finished in the top three more than once (Michael Turner, 2010 and 2011).
The position is volatile, and if your team has a good offensive line (the Cowboys certainly do), there are very few reasons to pay significant money for a running back. Murray can make their decision difficult if he:
- Plays in all 16 games
- Gains more than 1,000 yards
- Finishes in the top five in rushing
If he hits all of these goals, then he could be looking at a deal in the neighborhood of five years and $35 million with $20 million guaranteed from some team in 2015.
Should the Cowboys sign Murray to a long-term deal? I lean towards saying no, but I'll wait and see how the season plays out. He looks great right now, but his stock is at the highest it's ever been.
Eddie Middlebrook can be reached on Twitter @emiddlebrook.
