How serious are the Dallas Cowboys about acquiring one of the 2015 NFL Draft's very best running backs?
Serious enough to make sure just about all of them get a chance to make an in-house impression. We already knew Heisman Trophy finalist Melvin Gordon of Wisconsin was set to visit the Cowboys facility before the draft. But club owner Jerry Jones revealed Wednesday that a lengthy cast of the draft's other top rushing prospects, including Georgia's Todd Gurley, Indiana's Tevin Coleman, Boise State's Jay Ajayi and Nebraska's Ameer Abdullah, will visit the Cowboys as well, according to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.
Barring a trade, Dallas will enter the draft without a rusher anywhere near as accomplished as the departed DeMarco Murray, who left for the Philadelphia Eagles via free agency. The acquisition of Darren McFadden, coming off another uninspiring season with the Oakland Raiders, did little to ease concerns for Cowboys fans.
Nor, apparently, has it satisfied the club's front office.
NFL Media analysts Daniel Jeremiah and Charley Casserly project Dallas to scratch its running back itch in the first round of the draft with Gordon, who rushed for over 2,587 yards for the Badgers last season. In a best-case scenario, Gordon could inject Murray-like life into the backfield behind a tough, physical offensive line. In a worst-case scenario, Wisconsin's history of turning college stars into underwhelming pros would continue with Gordon.
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