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Should Dallas Cowboys sign Ben Tate?

By Kevin Parvizi

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The Dallas Cowboys are still busy searching for another veteran back to add to the roster, and they’re looking at a new candidate who has been on the free agent market for quite some time. According to ESPN’s Josina Anderson, former Houston Texans, Cleveland Browns, Minnesota Vikings, and Pittsburgh Steelers running back Ben Tate is working out for the Cowboys today, though it’s unclear how interested they are in him.

Tate was once a promising change-of-pace back behind Arian Foster in Houston, but he quickly became a free agent bust in Cleveland after falling apart following three credible performances to start the 2014 season. The Browns cut their losses, as Tate looked hobbled and ineffective. He can’t hold up in more than a rotation role, and he wasn’t even good enough in that capacity for the Vikings, who quickly cut ties with him after scooping him off of waivers when the Browns released him.

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After averaging 5.4, 4.3, and 4.3 yards per carry in his three seasons in Houston, Tate averaged just 3.1 yards per carry last season on 119 carries. He’ll be 27 when the season starts and has some bounce back potential, and his incredibly low price tag would make him an attractive target for the Cowboys on paper.

However, I just don’t see the point in signing him, unless if the Cowboys feel they are in need of a rotational back. Because I don’t think that’s what they need. Among Joseph Randle, Lance Dunbar, Darren McFadden, and Ryan Williams, the Cowboys have at least one worthy rotational back. McFadden, like Tate, is a bounce-back RB with some injury questions, and Williams is a talented project due to his huge injury flags.

In short, the Cowboys already have their “Maybes” on the roster and rotational backs, so if they want to go out and acquire another back, then it had better be someone with starting upside. While Tate could prove to be useful, it’s telling that three different teams didn’t feel like keeping him around last season. Nobody views him as a starter, nobody has shown interest in him this offseason, and the Cowboys are better off trying to add someone who is more productive.

I know this might not be a popular opinion because it’s easy to hate on him, but Chris Johnson would be a better option than Tate. As weird as it is to say, Johnson is a safer bet to produce, because he actually averaged 4.3 yards per carry last season and was a consistent 1,000-yard guy with the Tennessee Titans. Is Johnson that good? Of course not, but absolutely nobody left on the free agent market is a big threat or a sure-fire thing.

It’s just that Johnson is better than Tate in almost every way. He’s more explosive, he’s had more past and recent production, and he can take more carries than Tate, who has never carried the ball 200 times in a season. Outside of pass-catching ability, Tate doesn’t bring more to the table than Johnson, who could be an interesting player behind that beastly offensive line.

The Dallas Cowboys have options on the table, and it looks like they are going to go the inexpensive route and sign a veteran, as opposed to trading for someone like Khiry Robinson (or even Adrian Peterson, but that never looked like a realistic option). I like that idea, even if it’s a bit risky given the whole “window” thing. But Randle is a possible breakout player, and the other three running backs can fill roles. I just don’t see how Tate would fit into the picture, unless if the Cowboys don’t have any confidence in Dunbar.

I think the Cowboys like what they have, and while they understandably aren’t 100% confident in their current RBs, I just don’t see how Tate helps the situation. It wouldn’t be a bad signing to add him, since there’s really no risk in bringing him on board in the hopes that he can show off his Houston form. He might be worth the flier, but I’d rather see Dunbar getting those reps. I’d also rather see Johnson out there in training camp as the low-risk RB flier, since he offers more. But if the Cowboys think he’s too much of a headcase (he shouldn’t be, since he should know that his career is about to be over), then he’s clearly not worth it.

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