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Things are about to heat up around the Dallas Cowboys. With the team placing the franchise tag on Tony Pollard Monday afternoon, the focus now shifts to Ezekiel Elliott, and it's time to get the popcorn ready.
Let get right to it. Zeke is set to count for $16.4 million against the salary cap with a $10.4 million base salary. Yikes! I have talked about this time and time again recently. They have two options: make Elliott take a gigantic pay cut or simply release him.
Zeke told the team after the season ended that he would be willing to take that pay cut to stay with the team. Look, I like Elliott. Yes, he is nowhere near what he used to be and just don't have much left, but he can still punch the ball in the end zone and pick up short-yardage first downs. That is all they need him for.
When Jerry Jones did his favorite thing last week (speaking to the media), he told folks that the knee injury to Zeke was the primary reason for him notching a career-low 876 rushing yards last season. Although that probably added to the problem, he just does not have that burst anymore.
With Pollard receiving the tag, the guess the team is working on a long-term contact. The hope is the Cowboys learned from what they got themselves into with Zeke's huge payday and not dish out a ton of money for him.
OFFICIAL: the Cowboys have placed the franchise tag on Tony Pollard.
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— Dallas Cowboys (@dallascowboys) March 6, 2023
The first order of business is to create space and get under the cap first, though.
If the Cowboys cut Elliott, they would save $4.86 million. If they designate him a post-June 1 cut, they would save $10.9 million. Call me crazy, but I think they could rework his deal and save even more money by letting him taking a pay cut.
The one potential issue if Elliott stays on the roster with Mike McCarthy calling plays is he may feel like he HAS to find a way for Zeke to make an impact. I don't want them to force Elliott on the field if he isn't needed. If he does indeed stay on the roster, make a package for him.
Let him be the great pass blocker he is, and let him go to work in short yardage. He averaged 3.9 yards per carry a season ago. That is just who he is now. He does not need to be an every-down back. Pollard needs to be the starter, and Zeke can be used when needed.
I just wish Pollard was a little bit better in pass blocking, that is his only huge issue.
One other point of note: I will love this a heck of a lot more if Pollard can make a full recovery from a high-ankle sprain that required surgery.
At this moment, the Cowboys are now paying $27.68 million in 2023 for two running backs. In a passing league, this is not an ideal situation. If they go the route of releasing Elliott, that would leave them with Pollard and Malik Davis. This running back class is deep, so if the Cowboys need to draft someone, they could.
Nonetheless, all eyes have now shifted to Zeke. His representatives said they would determine his value at the combine. This very well could drag out until June if the team wants to cut him.
More must-reads:
- With RB decisions, Cowboys failing Cap Management 101
- Cowboys place franchise tag on Tony Pollard
- The 'Super Bowl starting QBs' quiz
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