NFC East Team Dallas Cowboys may sign and reunite with three-time Pro Bowl running back, Ezekiel Elliott this offseason. According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, the two sides have a mutual interest in a reunion as the team doesn’t have many options. The free agency market is running slim as the top remaining backs are Dalvin Cook, J.K. Dobbins and Kareem Hunt. The Cowboys were always open to bringing Elliott back after releasing him last offseason, now they have the chance to do so.
Elliott played in all 17 games last season with the New England Patriots and received a significant workload in the last five weeks of the year. He spent the first seven years of his career with the Cowboys and left the team on a one-year deal last August. Elliott notched 51% offensive snaps with a team-high 642 yards on 184 carries with three touchdowns He helped add a team-high 51 receptions for 313 yards and two touchdowns.
The Ohio State product was selected fourth overall in the 2016 draft by the Cowboys. He led the NFL in rushing yards in two of his three seasons and helped Dallas to the playoffs in his rookie year. His former quarterback, Dak Prescott would surely welcome him back with open arms after a tough break of the two best friends being away from each other. However, Elliott has established himself as one of the best running backs in the league.
He’s also the best available in the market for the Cowboys as well as far as the salary cap. The Cowboys are doubling down on their options and it looks like Elliott coming back makes sense for both sides. It would probably be a one-year deal to see how much gas he has left.
NFC East Team Dallas Cowboys May Sign Three-Time Pro Bowler Ezekiel Elliott
His Market Value Could Make Sense
The way how the Cowboys are spending this offseason makes this reunion imminently obvious. After signing Linebacker, Eric Kendricks, it might be the only addition they make in free agency to bolster their roster. It looks like bringing Elliott back would be the “all-in’ move they would make to win fans back after having another free agency to forget. According to a report, Dalvin Cook is another name to watch for if Dallas wants to bring him in instead.
However, it’s Elliott who has a strong relationship with the Cowboys so it may be unlikely they’ll bring Cook. Neither running back brings much confidence for the team but it’s still easily an upgrade. The only running backs on the roster are Rico Dowdle, Deuce Vaughn and Malik Davis who are unproven. The Cowboys are on the hook from Elliott’s contract money with $6 million in dead money next season.
They may as well bring him back before the upcoming season begins. It probably won’t be soon until after the draft that they bring Elliott if he’s still available. Elliott isn’t in his prime years but he would help bolster the offense with their red zone issues.
Is There a Better Idea?
It seems like Cowboys fans shouldn’t keep their hopes up in signing another back other than bringing Elliott back. It’s like waiting for candy in front of someone’s doorstep but they never open the door. The good news is that Dobbins could be a viable name but he may be used as an emergency due to his track record of injuries. Dallas would get an instant upgrade to fill their need after losing Tony Pollard to the Titans this offseason.
However, Elliott and the Cowboys don’t have many options so it’s easy to think that he could come back to fight for his starting role in Dallas again.
