Why he might stay: Dowdle’s homegrown. The Cowboys took a chance on him as an undrafted rookie free agent, and it paid off. Dowdle finally got his chance to be the Cowboys' starting running back in 2024 — and he seized it.

The Dallas Cowboys shocked fans in 2024 when they didn’t select a running back in the NFL Draft. Despite losing Tony Pollard in free agency, they felt comfortable going into the season with Ezekiel Elliott and Rico Dowdle as their primary options.

This year, the Cowboys have significant internal business to handle — specifically, trying to re-sign defensive tackle Osa Odighizuwa. And even though Micah Parsons still has another year on his rookie contract (so his deadline isn’t two weeks away),