Dallas Cowboys Open to Reunion With Superstar Running Back

The Dallas Cowboys can't quit Ezekiel Elliot. Speaking with the media following the draft, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones addressed the possibility of reuniting with the star running back and suggested there was still a possibility the team could re-sign the three-time Pro Bowler down the line.

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones on possibly trying to re-sign Ezekiel Elliott: “The ship hasn’t sailed there. We haven’t made a decision at all. As far as our interest in Zeke, nothing we did today changes that. I haven’t ruled out Zeke.”
— Jon Machota (@jonmachota) April 29, 2023

Elliot initially entered the league as the Cowboys' fourth overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft. He led the league in rushing twice over his first three years with the team, earning a lucrative six-year, $90 million extension in 2019 that rendered him one of the highest-paid backs in the league.

That extension, unfortunately, coincided with the end of Elliot's days as an above-average back. After averaging 96.5 rushing yards per game and 4.6 yards per attempt from 2016 to 2019, Elliot has averaged a mere 60.8 yards per game and 4.0 yards per carry in the three seasons since. Consequently, the Cowboys released him earlier this offseason as a post-June 1st cut, clearing $10.9 million in cap space.

Despite his release, the Cowboys still clearly have a soft spot for Elliot, and he could have a role on the team at the right price. The Cowboys have remained an excellent offense with Elliot splitting carries with Tony Pollard over the past two years, finishing fourth in points scored in 2022 and first in 2021. So long as the money makes sense, the Cowboys should be content to build on that success.