Ezekiel Elliott. Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Cowboys botched building their RB room this offseason

The Dallas Cowboys lost starting running back Tony Pollard to the Titans over the offseason, creating a hole that needs to be filled. Free agency and the NFL Draft have passed, and the Cowboys are without an RB1 for next season.

Dallas announced on Tuesday that it would be bringing back Ezekiel Elliott, and while this pickup may make Cowboys fans feel nostalgic, Elliott is not the running back he used to be. Last season, Elliott had 643 yards and three touchdowns with the Patriots.

Elliott will join a running back room that consists of Deuce Vaughn, Rico Dowdle, Malik Davis, Jarod Conner and Royce Freeman. Dowdle was the only back with more rushing yards than Dak Prescott last season.

After passing on elite ball-carriers like Derrick Henry, Saquon Barkley and Josh Jacobs in free agency, it seemed the Cowboys would be addressing this problem in the NFL Draft. Reports had come out that rookie running back Johnathon Brooks was the prospect to watch for with Dallas' second-round pick.

This did not come to fruition as the Cowboys not only didn't draft Brooks, but they didn't even attempt to take a running back with its eight picks in the draft. This neglect will leave Dallas with limited options for next season as it will have to add someone this offseason.

A few remaining free agents are Dalvin Cook, Rashaad Penny, Cam Akers and Kareem Hunt. None of these players are ideal for the Cowboys but have become a necessity for a really underwhelming running back room that used to feature guys like Emmitt Smith and DeMarco Murray.

Jerry Jones continues to talk about being all in this next season but has yet to show any real action towards those statements as the Dallas roster continues to get worse than it was last season.

More must-reads:

TODAY'S BEST
Juan Soto's bat speed decline threatens Mets' $765 million investment
Insider suggests four-time Pro Bowl option for Steelers if Aaron Rodgers doesn't sign
Watch: Pacers, Tyrese Haliburton eliminate the Bucks in OT
Stanley Cup playoffs takeaways: Hurricanes advance, panic time for Maple Leafs
NFL team executive expands on what Browns' Shedeur Sanders did wrong before draft
Jayson Tatum's historic game helps send Celtics to Eastern Conference semis
Yankees offense goes nuclear in blowout win
Pirates ace Paul Skenes explains why he's not concerned about potential injuries
Steelers may have found another steal in UDFA pool as Pittsburgh lands an athletic freak
49ers sign star TE to four-year extension
Spurs' Stephon Castle runs away with Rookie of the Year Award
Kings to make Doug Christie new head coach in full-circle moment
Vikings QB J.J. McCarthy sends strong message about whether he's ready to start in 2025
Pistons' Cade Cunningham comes alive in fourth quarter to stave off elimination vs. Knicks
Cubs defeat Pirates with an impressive night at the plate
Watch: Blue Jays' Daulton Varsho makes potential catch of the year
How Steelers reportedly expect Aaron Rodgers saga will end
Watch: Yankees open game with three straight home runs ... again
Ousmane Dembele strike lifts PSG over Arsenal in first leg of Champions League semifinal
Report: CB Jaire Alexander might stick with Packers

Want more sports news?

Join the hundreds of thousands of fans who start their day with Yardbarker's Morning Bark, the best newsletter in sports.