Ezekiel Elliott has narrowed his options to three teams and hopes to sign by the end of next week, ESPN reported Thursday.
Cut by the Dallas Cowboys in a salary-shedding move on March 15, the two-time rushing champion is considering the Philadelphia Eagles, New York Jets and Cincinnati Bengals, according to the report.
Elliott, 28, was scheduled to count $16.4 million against the Cowboys’ 2023 salary cap. Dallas designated him as a post-June 1 cut, per reports, saving the team $10.9 million. The team takes a $5.8 million hit in dead money.
Elliott was slowed in the second half of last season by a knee injury and wasn’t fully healthy in 2021. He rushed for a career-low 876 yards and 3.9 yards per carry in 2022 while backup Tony Pollard emerged as a 1,000-yard rusher and big-play threat.
The Cowboys used the franchise tag in March to retain Pollard at a cost of $10.1 million, resulting in a commitment of more than $27 million to the position for 2023.
Elliott led the NFL in rushing in 2016 and 2018 and registered four 1,000-yard seasons. The 2016 first-round pick (fourth overall) ranks third in Dallas history in rushing yards (8,262) and rushing touchdowns (68) behind Hall of Famers Emmitt Smith and Tony Dorsett.
Elliott rushed for 1,107 yards and seven touchdowns (one receiving) in 12 career games against the NFC East rival Eagles, who signed Rashaad Penny in free agency. Last season’s leading rusher, Miles Sanders, landed with the Carolina Panthers.
–Field Level Media