Dallas Cowboys, Baltimore Ravens must keep star halfbacks

The 2015 free agent class is one of the deepest in a while, and the running back position helps substantiate that claim. Dallas Cowboys and Baltimore Ravens backs DeMarco Murray and Justin Forsett, respectively, are set to become free agents in a short while — but their teams should make an honest effort to re-sign them.

Murray led the entire NFL in rushing yards in 2014 (with 1,845) and was regarded as one of the best backs in football. The argument against Murray stems from this: many NFL experts seem to think any running back can succeed behind the Dallas Cowboys’ offensive line. This could be the case, but nobody can know that for sure. What we do know is that Murray can succeed with the Cowboys — he proved that in 2014.

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Dallas should bring Murray back simply because whatever they did last season worked. There could be some issues with the salary cap, but running backs are not that expensive these days. (With that said, Dez Bryant is also a free agent and Dallas must also focus on bringing him back as well). Murray was a key cog in Dallas’s surprising 12-4 season — it worked, so why not bring him back? Could any running back succeed? I don’t know, but what I do know is that Murray, albeit behind an excellent offensive line, excelled in Dallas.

Who knows how far Dallas would’ve gone in the playoffs if that Dez Bryant play in Green Bay was ruled a catch. Murray probably would’ve punched it in and Dallas could possibly have been on its way to Seattle. On the road against the Seahawks, Dallas may have fared better than Green Bay. Remember, Dallas actually went to Seattle and got a win in the regular season. Murray probably would’ve played a big part in Dallas’s game plan.

Of course, that’s all hypothetical and only could’ve happened if that Dez Bryant play was ruled a catch, but that’s beside the point. What Dallas did in 2014 with Murray worked exceptionally well, so why not bring him back, especially because running backs come relatively cheap?

Murray brings valuable assets to the table that were typified in 2014: he is extremely tough to tackle in open space, he has excellent vision, is a stellar receiving back, and, despite a hand injury, proved that he can effectively start in 18 games (including the postseason). He’s helped Tony Romo rewrite his December narrative, as the Cowboys went 4-0 in the final month of the season, largely due to Murray’s play.

Provided that Dallas is not totally breaking the bank to re-sign Murray, the team must bring him back. The same is the case for the Baltimore Ravens and Justin Forsett.

Forsett, an afterthought after being signed early last year, ended up leading the league in yards per carry. Saying he had a resurgent season in Baltimore is an understatement. He put up big play after big play, ranking second in the league in rushing plays over 20 yards, right behind Murray.

Unlike Murray, Forsett should come at a much cheaper price. He’s getting older, and while obviously still effective, seemed like he slowed down a bit towards the end of the season. Even with that said, Baltimore should make him a top priority this offseason. He was an invaluable part of the team and was essentially Joe Flacco’s “security blanket” this season.

After two years of a mediocre running game with Ray Rice, Forsett got his chance in 2014 and revitalized a dormant unit. Forsett earned a well-deserved Pro Bowl appearance and proved that he’s among the top backs in the league, although not on the level as guys like Murray, he’s proven himself go be a top-tier running back.

The Ravens should be able to sign Forsett without overspending — the running back demand isn’t at a peak in the NFL right now and there are plenty of other solid pending free agent backs (Frank Gore, Shane Vereen, and possibly Adrian Peterson if Minnesota cuts him).

Even if Forsett doesn’t play as well — because of certain factors such as his age — Baltimore still has options. Bernard Pierce and Lorenzo Taliaferro are still options off the bench, and Forsett could turn into a rotational player who gets 12 to 15 carries a game. This flexibility is another reason why Baltimore should make an earnest effort to bring Forsett back.

Both the Dallas Cowboys and Baltimore Ravens should be in good shape for 2015, but many might be more confident if the two teams bring back their running backs who excelled in 2014.

Next: Dallas Cowboys and Dez Bryant need to make a deal

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