The Dallas Cowboys have a running back history like few other teams in the NFL. With two rushers on the league’s rushing top-10 list, including having Emmitt Smith atop the standings, the Cowboys are an organization that churns out top RBs regularly.
Their most recent success stories have been Ezekiel Elliott, with two rushing titles and four 1,000-yard rushing seasons in his seven seasons, and Tony Pollard, a fourth-round pick who has surpassed all expectations in becoming the best runner in Dallas. The duo has become one of the league’s top RB tandems in that last few years, but things are about to change.
Elliott is at a crossroads with the Cowboys, who probably don’t want to pay his $10.9 million salary while they’re up against the cap. He’s been a valued asset since the team drafted him with the fourth overall pick in 2016, but Elliott’s production no longer matches his cost. The team is likely to ask Elliott to take a pay cut to stay or release the franchise’s third-leading rusher of all-time.
The answer could come as early as next week’s NFL combine, where Elliott’s representatives will gauge his worth. No matter what happens, it’s obvious Elliott won’t be making near what he was scheduled to make.
The Cowboys would be wise to move on from Elliott, but given their love for the former rushing champion, that isn’t a foregone conclusion. Elliott does serve a purpose as one of the league’s short-yardage backs after scoring 12 touchdowns last year, however, his best days are clearly behind him.
If Elliott is released, the Cowboys could look to his running mate of the last four years as the replacement.
Pollard has been sharing the load for much of the last two seasons, but he surpassed Elliott as the elite option in the backfield. Not only was Pollard the best running back on the Cowboys, but he was one of the best backs in the league in 2022.
Pollard surpassed the 1,000-yard mark for the first time in his career, despite not logging 200 carries, averaging 5.2 yards a pop, third-best in the NFL.
The shifty runner out of Memphis made plays all season long and had 12 total touchdowns. Despite being one of the better units in the league, Dallas’ offense didn’t have many game breakers, yet Pollard always seemed to be creating an explosive play. The Cowboys lacked speed on offense, but Pollard brought that element and more.
TONY POLLARD GOING OFF 📈
The Cowboys rout is ON in Minnesota.pic.twitter.com/67Kc2Y52oS
— Yahoo…
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