The Dallas Cowboys have a pretty solid formula at place when it comes to running back. Sign a guy for a pittance — a 1-year deal for something in the vicinity of the league minimum — and watch them rush for over 1,000 yards.
It worked in 2024 with Rico Dowdle. It worked in 2025 with Javonte Williams.
According to Pro Football Focus, it could work again in 2026 with free agent running back Tyler Allgeier, who will be looking for a new home after having the bad luck of playing behind NFL All-Pro Bijan Robinson on the Atlanta Falcons for the last few years.
PFF’s Mason Cameron put Allgeier on his list of the NFL’s Top 10 free agents on offense and identified his best landing spot as with the Cowboys.
“Although he’s been overshadowed by Bijan Robinson in Atlanta, Allgeier is quietly one of the NFL’s most productive backs,” Cameron wrote. “His 84.0 PFF rushing grade ranks top five among qualifying running backs over the last two seasons while also not fumbling a single time over that span. As a premier zone runner, Allgeier would fit in well with the Cowboys’ inside zone-heavy scheme. ”
Typical Falcons Move: Draft Position You Don’t Need
Few franchises can compete with the Falcons when it comes to sheer stupidity in terms of drafting for need. Allgeier is a prime example.
Allgeier, a 2022 fifth round pick (No. 151 overall) out of BYU, rushed for over 1,000 yards as a rookie then watched the Falcons take Robinson at No. 8 overall in the 2023 NFL draft.
While Robinson has been great, it meant passing over NFL All-Pro defensive tackle Jalen Carter (No. 9), NFL All-Pro cornerback Christian Gonzalez (No. 17 overall) and NFL All-Pro wide receiver Jaxson Smith-Njigba (No. 20 overall).
The Falcons showed they were more than capable of making the same mistake twice when they drafted quarterback Michael Penix Jr. at No. 8 overall in the 2024 NFL draft — one month after signing free agent quarterback Kirk Cousins to a 4-year, $180 million contract.
Allegeier, 5-foot-10 and 225 pounds, has been more than proficient in a backup role to Robinson. He’s rushed for over 500 yards each of the last 3 seasons, including 514 rushing yards and 8 touchdowns in 2025.
Atlanta, on the other hand, hasn’t had a winning season since 2017 and is on their fourth head coach since 2020 with the recently hired Kevin Stefanski.
Williams Likely Priced Himself Out of Dallas
Perhaps the most appealing part about bringing in Allgeier is his talent vs. cost — Spotrac projects he’ll receive a 1-year, $1.8 million contract in free agency. Which would be the perfect price point for the Cowboys.
In 2024, Dowdle played on a 1-year, $1.255 million contract and rushed for a career-high 1,079 yards.
In 2025, Williams played on a 1-year, $3 million and rushed for career highs of 1,201 yards and 11 touchdowns while averaging a career high 4.8 yards per carry. That essentially doubled his numbers as the featured running back for the Denver Broncos in 2024.
Unfortunately for the cash-strapped Cowboys, that also means they probably can’t afford to bring back Williams, who is in line to receive something along the lines of a 3-year, $22 million contract in free agency.
Cowboys Predicted to Replace 1,200-Yard RB With NFC South Standout