“Stats are for losers. They relish in them.”—Jerry Jones, 2024, probably while sipping a bourbon and staring at a Lombardi Trophy replica. The Dallas Cowboys’ 7-10 dumpster fire of a season—their first losing record since 2020—has fans howling louder than a Texas coyote. Yet, as the 2025 NFL Draft looms, Jerry’s playing chess while everyone else plays checkers. Instead of addressing the NFL’s worst rushing attack (a measly 463 yards through six weeks) America’s Team is reportedly eyeing Mississippi DT, who is he?

Walter Nolen at No. 12. As nothing fixes a broken running game like drafting a defensive tackle, right? Let’s break this down like Moneyball meets Jerry Maguire. The Cowboys’ ground game this season was so anemic it made The Walking Dead look lively. Yet, with Osa Odighizuwa—their Pro Bowl DT—hitting free agency, Jerry’s itching to replace him with Nolen, a ‘twitchy disrupter‘ who racked up 14 tackles and 6.5 sacks at Ole Miss. Sure, Nolen’s a beast. But here’s the rub: Dallas’ defense already allowed 27.5 PPG (31st in the league) and got gashed for 2,331 rushing yards. Prioritizing the D-line over fixing an O-line that couldn’t open a pickle jar? That’s like buying a new grill when your house is on fire.

Jerry Jones’s infamous “I overpaid for my big successes every time” quote haunts this move. Instead of splurging on a Derrick Henry-type RB or drafting a game-changer, he’s banking on Rico Dowdle—a feel-good undrafted hero—and Ezekiel Elliott, who’s about as explosive as a wet firecracker these days. “We feel good about our running backs,” Jones said, channeling his inner Dumb and Dumber optimism. Meanwhile, Dak Prescott’s hamstring is held together by duct tape, and CeeDee Lamb’s record-breaking hands are begging for a play-action buddy.

The Cowboys’ 2024 offense ranked 21st in scoring (20.6 PPG), and their O-line was a MAS*H unit. Rookie Tyler Guyton? Hurt. Zack Martin? Aging. Yet, Jerry’s solution is… Walter Nolen? “The stat is the score,” Jones once said. Well, the scoreboard says 7-10, pal.

Maybe Nolen is the next Warren Sapp. Maybe Odighizuwa walks, and this pick saves the defense. But in a league where teams debate, RB value more fiercely than The Last of Us plot twists, ignoring Dak’s needs feels reckless. Remember when Jones said, “You wouldn’t want to see the size of the check I’d write for a Super Bowl”? Turns out, the check’s void if your QB’s running for his life.

Jerry Jones’s QB losing his RB safety net

Dak Prescott’s career has been a mix of divine intervention and ‘why, football gods, why?!’ moments. In 2024, he lost his security blanket twice: first to a gruesome hamstring avulsion, then to a backfield in chaos. Rico Dowdle’s 1,000-yard season—a triumph for any undrafted RB—was the lone bright spot in a 41-7 Eagles thrashing. “Definitely felt good, definitely a landmark I wanted to hit,” Dowdle said, adding, “Wish it was a different outcome with the fumble.” Classic Cowboys—even milestones come with asterisks.

But here’s the kicker: Dak’s best RB isn’t even his anymore. Dowdle’s a free agent, Zeke’s a shell of his 2016 self, and the ‘Boys didn’t draft a single rusher last year. Imagine Tony Stark losing his arc reactor and trying to power up with an AA battery. Dak’s 1,978 yards and 11 TDs in eight games were solid, but without a run game, he’s as stranded as Tom Hanks in Cast Away. “You can’t win games when you’re four to zero in the turnovers,” Dowdle sighed after the Eagles loss. Spoiler: Dallas finished -11 in turnover differential.

While Jones fiddles, Saquon Barkley’s out here rewriting history. The Eagles’ RB is 100 yards shy of breaking Eric Dickerson’s single-season rushing record—a feat Dowdle called ‘good for everybody in the running-back world.’ Meanwhile, Jones’s like, ‘Hold my beer,’ doubling down on a DT. It’s Game of Thrones logic: “Chaos isn’t a pit. Chaos is a ladder.” Except the Cowboys owner’s ladder leads to a basement.

As the Cowboys limp into 2025, the question isn’t just about Nolen vs. needs—it’s about Jerry Jones’s legacy. Is he a visionary… or just a gambler chasing yesteryear’s glory? One thing’s clear: One thing’s clear: Failing to fix the run game will severely test Dak’s faith. And in Dallas, patience isn’t just thin—it’s gone.