Phil Mafah is going to make some noise in the Dallas Cowboys' backfield

After going six rounds without hearing his name called, Clemson's Phil Mafah went No. 239 overall in the seventh round to the Dallas Cowboys who selected a running back two rounds earlier.

Mafah played his entire college career at Clemson, but really burst onto the scene as a junior in 2023 when he finished just shy of 1,000 yards and 13 touchdowns on 179 carries. He finally surpassed 1,000 yards in 2024 as a senior, averaging 5.2 yards per touch with eight touchdowns.

As for his receiving ability, the 6-foot-1, 215-pound back isn't known for catching the ball but had 42 total receptions over his last two seasons at Clemson for 211 yards. He was a safety valve.

Now that he's with the Cowboys, he's going to have to fight for reps -- not that he didn't at Clemson, but it feels like the backfield could be wide open in Dallas. As a seventh-rounder, there's no guarantee that Mafah will make the roster, but with the three guys projected ahead of him, there's at least a fighting chance he makes the 53-man.

Dallas did pick Jaydon Blue from Texas two rounds ahead of Mafah and it has Javonte Williams and Miles Sanders on the roster but none of those guys are guaranteed starting snaps. Williams is obviously the top option, but Mafah's size, ability to hit the holes hard and see the field well, and his speed shows that he has all the tools necessary to compete for snaps in the NFL.

Will we see Mafah leading the Dallas backfield? Maybe not as a rookie, but I wouldn't be shocked if he worked his way up the depth chart in the next year or two.