The Cowboys separated from Ezekiel Elliott‘s six-year, $90M extension in 2023, but a reality in which the running back is tied to two Dallas contracts on this year’s payroll appears firmly in play.
Rumblings about an Elliott-Cowboys reunion have surfaced at multiple points this offseason, and the team met with the two-time rushing champion Wednesday. Elliott and his agent met were seen with Cowboys brass at multiple locations Wednesday, and Jerry Jones confirmed (via the Dallas Morning News’ David Moore) that team brass “spent a lot of time with Zeke” this week.
Jones also said if (when?) the Cowboys draft a running back Friday night, it would not affect how they approach an Elliott reunion. At least one other known suitor exists, per Jones, but Moore points to this reunion coming to pass. Jones said Elliott played “very well” late last season with the Patriots.
This reunion was believed to be on the radar months after the team made the former star a cap casualty, but Elliott confirmed it did not gain much traction. That is no longer the case. Jones also said the $6M that remains on the team’s payroll will not affect how the team proceeds with Elliott now.
“Not even a consideration,’’ Jones said. “He’s earned that $6 million. We’ve already spent it. You have to pay that whether he’s here or not. It won’t affect one thing with how he would help our team this year.’’
Elliott, 28, played last season on a one-year, $3M deal. Another suitor being in the mix will likely lead to Elliott commanding more than the league minimum on a Cowboys reunion. While Elliott only averaged 3.5 yards per carry (a career-low number), he was tied to a 4-13 Patriots team that ran into injury issues up front — to say nothing of a woeful passing attack. Elliott started the final five Pats games due to a Rhamondre Stevenson IR move, producing two 50-plus-yard rushing performances to close a 642-yard season in what amounted to a committee role.
Jones has offered effusive praise for Elliott in the past, even as Tony Pollard overtook him as the most productive Cowboys back. With Pollard in Nashville now, the Cowboys will likely draft a replacement. Elliott's return would put him in a position as a complementary option. Though, Dallas’ RB situation does not feature strong in-house solutions; journeyman Royce Freemanjoins 2023 backup Rico Dowdle and sixth-round Deuce Vaughn, who goes 5-foot-6.
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