The name of the game for Dallas was building the big uglies up front early and late, and filling in around the edges with a corner, a linebacker, and a couple of running backs. Those running backs are intriguing, as permanent part-time player Javonte Williams is manning the backfield for them. Let’s see if there’s any juice to squeeze from Jaydon Blue or Phil Mafah!
| Rd | Pick | Player | Pos | College |
| 1 | 12 | Tyler Booker | OG | Alabama |
| 2 | 44 | Donovan Ezeiruaku | DE | Boston College |
| 3 | 76 | Shavon Revel | CB | East Carolina |
| 5 | 149 | Jaydon Blue | RB | Texas |
| 5 | 152 | Shemar James | LB | Florida |
| 6 | 204 | Ajani Cornelius | OT | Oregon |
| 7 | 217 | Jay Toia | DT | UCLA |
| 7 | 239 | Phil Mafah | RB | Clemson |
Round 5, Pick 149: Jaydon Blue, Running Back, Texas (5’9″, 196 lbs)
TALENT
If Jaydon Blue were 3 inches taller and 30 pounds heavier, then people would be hooting and hollering for him. He hits the hole hard and is a decisive downhill runner, but he has the requisite patience to let blocks develop. He always falls forward on tackles and churns his legs in a pile. He is a good pass catcher out of the backfield, adding a good element to his game.
While Blue has good acceleration and long speed, that seems to be his entire bag of tricks. He can hit you with a stutter step or a dead leg, but that’s it. He has good enough gathering into cuts to make it all work, but ultimately, he doesn’t change direction or make something out of nothing. He also takes on way too many hits for his frame, and fumbles the ball far too much. All in all, he probably tops out at 40% of a 60/40 backfield split.
NFL Comparison: Justice Hill
Pre-Draft Grade: 6th Round
2025 OPPORTUNITY
Depth Chart:
RB1 Javonte Williams
RB2 Jaydon Blue
RB3 Miles Sanders
RB4 Deuce Vaughn
RB5 Phil Mafah
Javonte Williams shared a backfield at UNC with Michael Carter, and he shared a backfield with various other folks in Denver, across two coaching staffs. In Denver, he never played more than 53.5% of snaps and was a proper part-time back. That’s two different stopping points and multiple locations that did not see Williams as a full-time back. That opens the window for Jaydon Blue to climb through. In reality, this depth chart is a mess, and he only has to stave off Miles Sanders. That means that he has the leg up on the competition to be the shortside platoon for Javonte Williams, which could give him upwards of ten touches per game.
Unfortunately, without a Javonte Williams injury, I’m not sure if that’s enough to give him a viable amount of touches.
2025 FANTASY FOOTBALL OUTLOOK
Jaydon Blue, should Javonte Williams suffer an injury, is on the short-list of must-add running backs for the week since he will be the only viable back on that roster. He would be a massive get for your fantasy football squad at that point. That makes him, for me at least, a deep league stash, to see what happens. If Javonte doesn’t get hurt, he could be a desperation spot play, but all told, I don’t know if he can keep the trust of the coaching staff given his predilection for fumbling.
I would only draft Blue in deep leagues, and I don’t know if I would have the patience to wait around for him, especially when you consider how quickly fumbling can lose someone their job.
Round 7, Pick 239: Phil Mafah, Running Back, Clemson (6’0″, 234 lbs)
TALENT
They don’t make them like Phil Mafah anymore. A classic power back in the Josh Jacobs mold, The Juggernaut runs through opposing defenders and doles out the punishment as best he can from down to down. That said, The Juggernaut is not a pejorative because this guy is capable of finding a hole in the line and doesn’t choose to merely power through whatever is going on in front of him. Mafah is going to max out as a two-down banger a la D’Onta Foreman post-Achilles injury in the league.
NFL Comparison: Post-Achilles Tear D’Onta Foreman
Pre-Draft Grade: UDFA
2025 OPPORTUNITY
Depth Chart:
RB1 Javonte Williams
RB2 Jaydon Blue
RB3 Miles Sanders
RB4 Deuce Vaughn
RB5 Phil Mafah
Mafah is last on a depth chart that contains both Miles Sanders and Deuce Vaughn. That’s a dreary sight, and I doubt he even makes it so far as to be on the active roster. He’s likely Practice Squad fodder when the regular season rolls around.
2025 FANTASY FOOTBALL OUTLOOK
If four other backs suffer injuries, he would be worth a look in deep leagues… as a flex.
