Andrew Buller-Russ
Tony Pollard is the new starting running back of the Dallas Cowboys after the team decided to release Ezekiel Elliott following seven productive seasons with ‘America’s Team.’ Elliott, a three-time Pro Bowl running back who has the third-most rushing yards in franchise history, has yet to find a new suitor in free agency despite being available since March.
Aside from a visit to the New England Patriots, the reported interest in Elliott has been lukewarm, at best. But that doesn’t mean teams aren’t privately considering adding the 28-year-old tailback to their depth chart.
In fact, even the Cowboys seemingly haven’t ruled out a return by Elliott. Team owner Jerry Jones recently admitted the Cowboys are “reading the tea leaves” regarding Elliott” and that “he’s not ruled out at all” when it comes to re-signing the veteran RB.
This latest sentiment is no different than what we’ve heard coming out of Cowboys camp all along. But the running back market is stagnant, with several others still seeking a contract too. This includes Dalvin Cook, Kareem Hunt, Leonard Fournette, and many more.
The Cowboys weren’t willing to continue paying Elliott’s price and have decided to commit to paying Pollard $10.09 million via the franchise tag instead. But the backfield’s future is up in the air after this season.
Even if Elliott does come back to the Cowboys, he won’t be making nearly as much as he was set to earn in 2023, where he held a $16.4 million cap hit. Dallas saved $10. 9 million by cutting him loose.
Elliott’s current asking price is not known. But if the Missouri native can’t find a deal to his liking, it’s possible the Cowboys become the best place for Elliott to resume his career during the 2023 season, as long as the two sides can agree on contract value, which seemed to be the original issue before his release.
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