Dallas Cowboys star running back Ezekiel Elliott has two more years remaining on his rookie contract after the team elected to pick up his option for the 2020 campaign.
In no way does this mean Elliott is going to get a contract extension any time soon. That’s according to Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, who had this to say about a potential mega deal.
“We certainly want to get him (Elliott) done. He’s the straw, if you will, that stirs our drink. He’s a key part of what we’re about. Those things take time to get done,” Jones said, via NFL Media. “They don’t happen overnight. Certainly he’s a priority in terms of ultimately getting him signed. There hasn’t really been a timetable put on this.”
Elliott, 23, is set to earn a base salary of just $3.85 million in 2019. That number almost triples to $9.1 million in 2020 after Dallas exercised its option on the Pro Bowl back.
Marred by a suspension back in 2017, Elliott’s career has been a hit on the field. The two-time Pro Bowler led the NFL in rush attempts (304), rushing yards (1,434) and touches (381) last season.
Elliott figures to completely reset the running back market once he does ink a long-term deal with Dallas. If not, he’ll by the class of free agency in 2021.