The Ezekiel Elliott era has come to an end for the Dallas Cowboys.
According to NFL insiders Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero, the team informed Zeke today that he will be released.
The juice was no longer worth the squeeze with Zeke. In 2019. The 27-year-old received a six-year, $90 million contract extension that wound up being a major overpay. Elliott was due to be an $11.8 million cap hit in 2023, which would make him the third-highest paid player in Dallas.
But Zeke clearly lost a step in 2022. His strengths were in pass protection and short yardage situations, and that’s it. He set career-lows in rushing attempts, rushing yards, receptions and receiving yards.
Where Do The Cowboys Go From Here At RB?
Last week, the Cowboys applied the franchise tag to Tony Pollard. This means the team will retain the 25-year-olds services for one more season at a $10 million cap hit.
But Pollard and the Cowboys still have time to secure a long-term extension before the season starts. If they can’t, Pollard will once again be a free agent at season’s end.
The only other RB under contract is Malik Davis. After going undrafted in 2022, Davis inked a deal with the Cowboys. He got 38 carries for 161 yards (4.2 yards per attempt) and a touchdown. Davis also caught six passes for 63 yards.
RB Rico Dowdle was also on roster last season, but most of his snaps were on special teams. Dowdle didn’t record any rushes or targets.
Time will tell if Dallas opts to roll with Pollard and Davis as a 1-2 combo, or if a back will be added via trade, free agency or the 2023 NFL Draft.
