The Cowboys are one of three remaining teams in the NFC in no small part due to the success of their rushing attack.
Both of the team’s top tailbacks will be the subject of plenty of speculation this offseason, with a number of questions to be answered from a financial standpoint.
Tony Pollard has established himself not only as an effective compliment to Ezekiel Elliott over the past two seasons in particular, but rather a highly productive option in the backfield in his own right.
The 25-year-old is scheduled to hit free agency this March, and made a case for himself to earn a sizeable payday either from Dallas or another team.
Pollard totaled 890 yards on 187 carries during his first two campaigns, good for an average of 4.75 yards per rush. That, coupled with his production as a pass-catcher and returner, has led to increased calls for him to take on a larger offensive workload.
He has seen an uptick in snap share since 2021, including a 53% mark in 2022 as his efficiency continued to be visible. The former fourth-rounder eclipsed 1,000 rushing yards for the first time this season, showing an ability to handle a starter’s load during Elliott’s absence in Weeks 8 and 10.
That production made Pollard a Pro Bowler this year, and sets him up well to hit the open market. However, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports that the franchise tag is in consideration from Dallas’ perspective to keep him in the fold for at least one more year (video link).
The 2023 tag is projected to cost just over $10M for running backs, which would represent a considerable bump in compensation for Pollard.
Given the presence of Elliott, however, that would also make the RB position a highly expensive one for the Cowboys.
Elliott has four more years remaining on his deal, with scheduled cap hits ranging from $14.3M to $17.1M.
The fact that no guaranteed money is outstanding, however, has led to a widespread expectation that the former No. 4 pick will either be cut or subject to signing a new contract aimed at lowering his cap hit.
On the other hand, owner Jerry Jones has reiterated on multiple occasions how much he and the team value Elliott as the lead back.
Dallas is currently slated to be in worse shape than most teams financially this offseason, so significant maneuvering will be needed to keep Pollard and Elliott together.
What steps the team takes to achieve that goal will be a key storyline once their season comes to an end.
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