The Dallas Cowboys have officially parted ways with former superstar running back Ezekiel Elliott. After seven years of strong play, the Ohio State product is officially a free agent for the first time in his career. In theory, Elliott could sign with any team in the league, but is he going to have a market? While only time will tell for sure, we can take a look at the numbers and see if the former Cowboy has anything left in his tank.
Thank you, @EzekielElliott! pic.twitter.com/kYlqwJO6Bf
— Dallas Cowboys (@dallascowboys) March 15, 2023
Does Ezekiel Elliott Have Anything Left?
It goes without saying that Ezekiel Elliott is not the player he once was. At his peak, he was arguably the best running back in football, and we haven’t seen that guy on the field in quite some time. However, just because he’s no longer a top-five running back doesn’t mean he won’t carry any value for an organization. If he’s even capable of playing at a league-average level, he should have some suitors across the league. The only question is whether or not Elliott can still play at a league-average level.
At first glance, Elliott’s volume stats don’t exactly inspire much confidence. Playing in 15 games, the running back finished the year with 876 yards and 12 touchdowns on 231 carries (3.8 YPC). However, running back production is largely the product of playcalling and blocking, so Elliott’s below-average yards per carry isn’t necessarily a reflection of his talent. So, with that in mind, let’s take a look at what the advanced metrics say.
According to Pro Football Focus, Elliott finished the season with a 68.3 overall grade. This made him the 41st-best running back out of 60 eligible players. This obviously isn’t great, but it’s not the end of the world. PlayerProfiler comes to a similar conclusion, as Elliott ranked 48th in juke rate, 41st in breakaway run rate, and 44th in yards created.
This is all one long way of saying that Elliott can still play in the NFL, but he’ll have to be part of a committee. 250 touches is a lot for a 28-year-old running back, so it stands to reason that Elliott’s efficiency can improve if he spends 2023 working in a smaller role. Ultimately, he’s not a starting-caliber back anymore, but an experienced veteran like him can still help the right team.
Possible Team Fits
Let’s start off with the only team that, as of this posting, has shown any interest in Ezekiel Elliott: the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. With Tom Brady officially retired, Baker Mayfield is taking over, and the Buccaneers don’t appear to be actively embracing the tank. Rachaad White played well as a rookie, but the Buccaneers don’t have another reliable running back on the roster. Adding Elliott would be a nice way for the team to bring in a veteran presence while letting White know that they still trust him to be the primary starter.
Of course, you can’t write an article like this without mentioning the Buffalo Bills. Devin Singletary is still a free agent, and Nyheim Hines will be back in 2023, but the team needs another reliable back. The Bills are in the midst of their win-now window, so it would make sense for them to go after a proven commodity like Elliott. They don’t need a superstar, just somebody capable of running between the tackles and providing reliable work in pass protection.
As an older running back, Elliott makes the most sense for a team that stands a real chance of winning the Super Bowl, and no team is better prepared for that than the reigning Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs. Isiah Pacheco has earned the right to be the primary starter, but he shouldn’t handle a full workload. Elliott is probably better than Jerrick McKinnon at this point in their respective careers, and the Chiefs might be willing to upgrade that position.
Main Photo: Kyle Terada – USA Today Sports
