Who Should I Start? Kene Nwangwu or Phil Mafah

Friday, March 14, 9:48 PM

The New York Jets re-signed running back/kick returner Kene Nwangwu (hand) to a one-year deal worth up to $2.5 million on Friday, according to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero. Nwangwu will return for his second season with the Jets and is currently the No. 4 RB on their depth chart behind Breece Hall, Braelon Allen and Isaiah Davis, so he's once again unlikely to make much of an impact in 2025. Last year, he was only active for two games and didn't see any involvement on offense, although he did have a 99-yard kickoff return in Week 13 on special teams. The former fourth-rounder (119th overall) by the Minnesota Vikings in 2021 out of Iowa State spent his first three years in Minnesota and had 27 carries for 88 yards and no touchdowns, adding six catches for 30 yards. Nwangwu ended the year on Injured Reserve with a hand injury in 2024.

Wednesday, May 7, 8:14 PM

The Dallas Cowboys have signed seventh-round rookie running back Phil Mafah to a four-year, $4.31 million deal, per the team's transaction log. Mafah spent his entire college career at Clemson, garnering seven starts over his first three seasons before starting in all 14 games in 2024. He broke out last year, rushing for 1,115 yards and eight touchdowns across 216 carries (5.2 YPC). The 22-year-old wasn't much of a receiver over his first two campaigns, but he caught 21 balls in each of his junior and senior seasons, though he did not score any TDs there. Like his fellow rookie rusher Jaydon Blue, Mafah will have the opportunity to crack Dallas' backfield due to the lack of competition in front of him. This RB room will be one to watch throughout the months leading up to the NFL season.