Back in 2016, the Dallas Cowboys made running back Ezekiel Elliott the fourth overall pick. Now, seven years, 8,262 rushing yards, and 68 touchdowns later, Jerry Jones could be set to move on from the three-time Pro Bowler.
According to Clarence Hill Jr. of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, the Cowboys are “set to part ways” with their starting tailback, seemingly handing the full-time duties over to Tony Pollard instead.
Hill notes this move could come as soon as today as teams hurry to get under the cap by the official start of the new league year at 4 PM ET.
- Ezekiel Elliott contract details: $16.7M cap hit in 2023, signed through 2026
Elliott, if released, would offer up to $10.9 million in cap savings if the team designates him as a post-June-1 cap casualty. This would spread out the remaining dead salary of $5.8 million over multiple seasons.
After finishing with a career-worst 3.8 yards per carry on 231 attempts last season, Elliott may have played his last game in a Cowboys uniform. Yet, there’s no doubt another team will be willing to take a flier on the 27-year-old who has four 1,000-yard seasons under his belt, including 2,001 yards from scrimmage back in 2018.
If Elliott is cut loose, expect to see a lot more of Pollard in the backfield after the 25-year-old former fourth-round pick made the Pro Bowl for the first time last season. He’s set to play on the franchise tag ($10.09M) in 2023, and the Cowboys likely want to get him signed long-term.
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