FORMER TEAM: DALLAS COWBOYS
Amid a disappointing 2024 campaign for the Cowboys, Dowdle emerged as a legitimate weapon, averaging 4.6 yards per carry on his way to a 1,000-yard season. Instead of retaining Dowdle, who will turn 27 years old in June, Dallas let him walk to the Panthers. The Cowboys are set to replace him with a combination of former Bronco Javonte Williams, Miles Sanders (who faded over the last two seasons in Carolina) and fifth-round pick Jaydon Blue, which doesn’t exactly move the needle for a team needing consistent production from its backfield.
As for Martin, any time a team loses a future Hall of Famer to retirement, they know it will be very difficult to replace him. Martin was a model of consistency and toughness. Players like him don’t grow on trees. Dallas deserves credit for attempting to replace Martin with vicious Alabama blocker Tyler Booker, taking a first-round swing to address a glaring need. Still, replacing a legend is no small task.