Ezekiel Elliott reportedly narrows decision down to three teams
Former Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott is arguably the biggest name left on the free-agent market.
While there is likely a solid list of suitors for the former No. 4 overall pick, ESPN’s Adam Schefter is reporting that Elliott has narrowed down his next destination to three finalists.
Elliott, who’s just 27, reportedly wants to decide on his new team by the end of next week. Although he ran for 12 touchdowns, Elliott had a career-low 876 rushing yards in 2022 while splitting time with breakout star Tony Pollard. The Ohio State alum has led the NFL in rushing twice, and he’s scored 10 or more touchdowns and rushed for 1,000 or more yards four times since 2016.
After losing 1,200-yard back Miles Sanders to the Carolina Panthers via free agency, the Eagles have perhaps the biggest need of the three teams. Philadelphia re-signed Boston Scott and added Rashaad Penny to a group that features Kenneth Gainwell and Trey Sermon, but the four backs have just one season with 500 or more rushing yards between them.
The Jets are in a slightly better position with 23-year-old Michael Carter, who has 1,041 yards rushing and seven touchdowns in two seasons, and 21-year-old second-round pick Breece Hall, who averaged 5.8 yards per carry and ran for 463 yards and four touchdowns on 80 carries before tearing his ACL midseason.
The Bengals are the only team that has a 1,000-yard rusher on their roster; however, Joe Mixon, who’s rushed for over 1,000 yards in three of the last five years, could be a cap casualty thanks to his $12.79 million cap hit. Cincinnati could save $7.291 million if it cuts Mixon pre-June 1 or $10.04 million with a post-June 1 release.
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