The Dallas Cowboys opted to give Dez Bryant the franchise tag, meaning that re-signing free agent running back DeMarco Murray this offseason will prove challenging. Murray, the NFL's leading rusher last season, will undoubtedly seek out a top dollar deal after such a stellar year. The perennially cap strapped Cowboys, however, are averse to paying an exorbitant amount of money to keep him in Big D.
That could lead to some contentious negotiations and an eventual parting between the two camps. If such a split is on the horizon, New Orleans Saints free agent running back Mark Ingram could be a possible replacement.
"This team is built on its running game, and while Murray had an outstanding season, giving him what he is sure to receive on the open market is just bad business after his 2014 workload," ESPN's Matt Williamson wrote. "Unless Murray comes at something close to a discount, a cheaper option such as Ingram might yield similar results to Murray in this offense."
Ingram set career highs in several categories last season including carries (226), rushing yards (964) and rushing touchdowns (9). Although he has a bit of an injury history, running behind three first round picks on the offensive line will help keep him upright. Regardless of what happens to Dallas' running back depth chart in free agency, the team needs to add able bodies to the mix.
"Even if they can re-sign DeMarco Murray, they need depth [at running back]; remember, Murray missed two to six games in each of his first three seasons," Vincent Verhei of Football Outsiders wrote. "Behind him are Joseph Randle, who has been arrested twice in the past five months and is still under investigation for domestic violence, and Lance Dunbar, who was 16.4 percent worse than an average running back, according to Football Outsiders' DVOA (defense-adjusted value over average) metric in 2014 despite running behind the NFL's best offensive line."