Ezekiel Elliott remains one of the best running backs available in NFL free agency nearly two months after being released by the Dallas Cowboys. With the 2023 NFL Draft in the rearview mirror, Elliott should have an easier time finding an opportunity.
The former No. 4 overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft boasts one of the best resumes among the top NFL free agents. Elliott is a three-time Pro Bowl selection and two-time NFL leader in rushing yards. He’s also one of the best running backs in Cowboys’ history and is just under 1,900 yards away from becoming the 32nd player in NFL history to eclipse 10,000 career rushing yards.
- Ezekiel Elliott career stats: 8,262 rushing yards, 68 rushing touchdowns, 4.4 yards per carry
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However, Elliott’s reputation around the league has taken a considerable hit in recent years. Heading into his age-28 season, the 6-foot running back averaged just 4 yards per carry over the last three years. With NFL teams now viewing him as a rotational player, the former Cowboys’ star will have to settle for a diminished role wherever he lands.
- Ezekiel Elliott stats (2022): 876 rushing yards, 12 touchdowns, 3.8 yards per carry
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Keeping all of that in mind, let’s examine where things stand for Elliott heading into 2023 and what NFL teams are a good fit for him.
Best Ezekiel Elliott destinations in NFL free agency
The 2022 NFL season demonstrated why NFL teams no longer view Elliott as a starting running back. While he had the seventh-most rushing touchdowns in the NFL, Elliott wasn’t an effective runner when touching the football outside of short-yardage situations.
- Ezekiel Elliott advanced stats: 1.42 yards created per touch (54th), 3.5% breakaway run rate (41st), 16.5% juke rate (48th) 3.7 true yards per carry (62nd)
He remains a reliable pass blocker for his position and can handle being a goal-line back, especially for an offense that makes a lot of red-zone trips. However, those are the only two roles he can effectively play at this point in his career.
Let’s examine the four best landing spots for Elliott in NFL free agency.
Cincinnati Bengals
The Cincinnati Bengals now seem committed to Joe Mixon staying on the roster in 2023. However, it’s also clear the organization isn’t thrilled with its current situation at running back. Mixon received 63.6 percent of the Bengals’ carries inside the 5-yard line last season, managing just five scores on 14 carries. On the other hand, Elliott (nine scores on 16 attempts) is a more effective goal-line back. Given the investments Cincinnati made in its offensive line, it’s clear pass protection is important to the coaching staff and Elliott would also be a superior option over Mixon for that role, too.
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Los Angeles Chargers
Austin Ekeler is likely staying with the Los Angeles Chargers, but he’s not a goal-line back and the franchise didn’t add one in the 2023 NFL Draft. Despite having some of the best talent in the NFL, Los Angeles ranked 18th in red-zone touchdown rate (54.55 percent) last season. Ekeler is best utilized as an offensive weapon, providing Justin Herbert with a pass-catching threat underneath to make plays. It creates a clear opening for Elliott to fill a role in the Chargers’ offense, providing him with ample opportunities to score touchdowns and he can reunite with Kellen Moore.
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Dallas Cowboys
If the Cowboys are bringing Elliott back, Jerry Jones will be the reason for it. He’s one of Jones’ most beloved players and Dallas didn’t seem to love cutting him this offseason. While fans want to see more of Tony Pollard, he’s recovering from a broken leg and it seems ill-advised to push him into a workload with 270-plus touches. Based on Mike McCarthy’s plans to be a more run-oriented team in 2023, retaining Elliott as a short-yardage back makes sense.
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New England Patriots
Bill Belichick loves using multiple running backs, his history speaks for itself. While Rhamondre Stevenson is poised to be the focal point of the New England Patriots rushing attack next season, everyone should know by now that others will be involved. While New England signed James Robinson, he hasn’t looked the same since returning from a torn Achilles. Elliott could be another role player in the Patriots’ offense, giving Belichick what he wants and keeping Stevenson fresh.
