Ashton Jeanty is all the rage when it comes to running backs in the NFL Draft. The star RB is expected to be the No. 1 pick when it comes to the RB class. With a total of 4,769 passing yards and 50 touchdowns, there’s no way teams in need of one will want to pass him on. Interestingly, the Cowboys have long been rumored to be in hot pursuit of Jeanty. Sadly, their position in the draft will make it harder for Jerry Jones to bag the man. But, some troubling warnings have been sounded from a veteran who seems to be pushing Jeanty to clean up some messes.

If Jeanty is to go to Dallas, it means he must slip from the Top 10 picks in the draft. Jerry Jones wants Ashton Jeanty, and Jeanty wants Dallas. However, the Cowboys are the No. 12 pick in the draft. For Jeanty to go to Jones, he’d have to slip far lower in his stocks, where he still falls somewhere in the top-10 picks. He doesn’t really have much to do. Perhaps there are not many options for Dallas, apart from trading up the order, which is not an easy task. While Jeanty continues to delve into who would pick him, he’s made it clear where he wants to go.

But Emmitt Smith, the former Cowboy to whom Jeanty is often likened, has come out to be against this match altogether. “If he comes to the Cowboys right now … he’s going to get beat up,” Smith said. “I don’t think we’re ready. We don’t have the right mindset. We don’t have the right commitments.” That’s something about a team that struggled with a poor offense last season, especially in the running back room.

Further scrutiny comes from former NFL coach Jon Gruden, who emphasized that while Jeanty’s technique is sound, he needs to “anchor down a little bit better at the next level.”

So, Jeanty is in full damage control mode to still stay relevant in Cowboys’ conversations. He told Kay Adams of Up & Adams about whether he saw himself playing for Dallas in the future. “I mean, it would be great. You know, it’d be a special opportunity and, you know, to really play for any team in the NFL would be great,” he said about a chance of playing for that Lone Star. “But, you know, just the fact that I grew up here” you know, just a little different… all opportunities, any team would be great.” Perhaps the local connection is something that Jeanty wants to make use of. Dallas is in need of a good RB. Ashton Jeanty is a great RB, and he wants to play for a home team.

Ashton Jeanty also had a rendezvous with the man of the hour himself. “I did meet Jerry Jones. […] I mean, we was, you know, we was just chopping it up, talking footb-lls, talking about Super Bowls. So, you know, that was a good time.” It seems like Jeanty is hopeful about Dallas, and Dallas is always on the lookout to be in the running for Jeanty. But, as they look to scout this great talent, Jones is warned about a particular fact. Jeanty himself has reason to worry about his draft prospects.

Former NFL coach raises warnings about Ashton Jeanty

Although Gruden’s scout placed the RB as the No. 1 pick in the class, he was quick to point out his ball security issues. To him, it seemed to be a “problem” in the game against Penn State. The scout replied, “I think that’s going to put a chip on his shoulder because if you look at his career and the totality, the fumbles aren’t there. I think he was playing a little hero b-ll. Probably tried to do a little too much.” That game was definitely the worst Jeanty played in the season. He made equally disappointing season-low numbers of 30 carries for 104 yards, and just 3.5 yards per carry.

Another point Gruden mentioned was Jeanty’s pass protection. But, it might not be so worrying for the RB, according to his scout. He said, “Pass protection, pretty good. But he needs to get a little sand in his pants. I think his technique’s good, but he’s got to anchor down a little bit better at the next level.” What Jeanty needs is some more time to work on these flaws to better channel his strengths, which are sought after by some lucrative teams.

Now, Jeanty has another team of analysts vying for him to go to. He is a likely top-10 pick, and Dallas is not near that zone. Recent mock drafts say that Jeanty might be headed to the Raiders, who are also desperate for a running back. They’re in the right time and the right place, so who knows where the star RB could end up? Also, it is difficult for any team to trade up in the draft. How far will Jerry Jones go to have the best odds of landing Ashton Jeanty?